Review: Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden

ThreeDay Road by Joseph Boyden

The novel follows Native Canadian Xavier Bird as he returns home from the First World War missing a leg and gaining a morphine addiction. The novel follows his memories of the war with his friend Elijah who didn't make it out of the war as well as Xavier's Aunt Niska who cares for him and tells him stories (in Native tradition) of her life in the residential school systems. Both Xavier and Niska's stories intertwine and connect the two bringing healing through the pain.

I read this novel for my Canadian Literature course and loved it! It allowed me to read about historical Canadian events that have been whitewashed by history. It allowed me to better understand the horrors of residential schools and the role Native Canadians had in the First World War. This book is a great historical read!

~ Sarah

(also available in ebook - the holds list isn't as long). 

Review: Out of This Place by Emma Cameron

We're going to be starting up with our regular reviews and very soon you'll be able to earn volunteer hours for reviewing books, videogames, music and more! Stay tuned. In the meantime, here is Sarah with a fantastic review of Out of This Place.

Out of This Place by Emma Cameron

This was the first verse written novel I've ever read! I was a bit nervous to read it at first as I've wondered how novels could possibly be written in verse. How do we get to know the characters? How is a plot created? How do we transition? I'm glad Out of This Place was my first verse novel I've read because it really showed me the joys and talent it takes in writing a novel of this sort.

Out of This Place follows three teens: Luke, Casey, and Bongo as they try to discover who they are and what they are going to be doing for the rest of their lives. Luke has a pretty easy life with nice but distant parents who pines for Casey while trying to figure out whether he's going to go to University after school or an apprenticeship program; Casey is a love-child whose father doesn't let her do anything which frustrates her causing her to seek an opportunity to run away, Bongo desperately tries to get in contact with his younger half-brother who is in foster care, with a mother in rehab and an abusive step-father Bongo runs to the streets to find his half-brother and start a new life.

Out of This Place is a perfect coming-of-age story set in Australia. It was nice to read from the perspectives of three very different teenagers as they searched for who they were and what they were going to make of their lives. While the story did jump around too quickly at points and leaving holes in some instances it is a very heartfelt story, unforgettable. It's poetry creates fantastic images that sweep the reader away while the story makes readers relate to the characters.

A fantastic novel, recommended for lovers of verse written novels or anyone who likes a good coming-of-age story.

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green

“Looking for Alaska” is without a doubt my favourite book by John Green. I love how different this is from his typical work (even though “Looking for Alaska” is his first novel). It feels more personal, more relateable and more real.

The characters are well developed and I love Alaska! I love how dimensional she is and how the reader and other characters never really get to know who she is. Even by the end of the novel there’s that question about who Alaska really was. It felt very much like “Paper Towns” where Q (and the reader) try to discover who Margo is. While we do get some insight on who Margo is, we never know who Alaska is. And I think that’s what makes the book great, this forever questioning of who she was. It works with the question John Green seems to put in his writing: How do we know who we truly are and who other people are? It makes readers realize that we don’t know ourselves or others no matter how much we think we do, so it’s important to take the time to get to know the person.

Also while reading I discovered that the line “I love you present tense” is found in both “Looking for Alaska” and “The Fault in Our Stars”.

They do differ slightly though. In “Looking for Alaska” the line is something like, “But I did love her, present tense.” While in “The Fault in Our Stars” it’s simply “I love you present tense.”

~ Sarah

Review: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Siji

in lieu of Monday's pick, we get a review! Hurrah! 

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Siji

Two teenage Chinese boys are sent to rural China to be "re-educated" by there governor. They are forced to awaken early, do horrible, tiring jobs (in their case, mining), treated horribly by their supervisors and forced to sleep in a broken down shack. But the two boys do find something: a little seamstress and books. And not just any books, forbidden books. The two boys decide to steal the books for themselves and the Little Seamstress to educate and bring her into a higher society. But not everything goes as planned for the two boys.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress reminds me a lot of The Book Thief. True, both stories take place in different countries and different times, but both works focus on the importance of literature and more particularly words. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is a beautiful, elegant story that everyone should read. 

~ Sarah

Death of a Kleptomaniac by Kristen Tracy

Death of a Kleptomaniac by Kristen Tracy

Sixteen-year-old Molly has finally gotten her life sorted out. She's popular and she's about to become the hottest boy in school's girlfriend. But nothing is ever enough for Molly so she steals: from her parents, from her friends, and from her classmates. Except for her stealing problem, everything is going right for Molly. But fate has one more thing planned for Molly. Death. Suddenly dead Molly must try to accept her fate, make sure she comforts her family and friends, and try to learn things she missed in life in order to move on to the afterlife. But she is tempted by other spirits and starts believing that maybe she doesn't have to move on and leave her family and friends behind.

I was extremely disappointed with this book. It sounds like a good book, it looks like a good book (the cover is gorgeous) but it isn't. The characters are flat and stereotyped and the story is rushed over with a very sped up ending, as if the author got bored and just wanted to finish the story. I was thoroughly disappointed with this book and expected something much better.

~ Sarah

Death of a Kleptomaniac is out in October. It should be added to the catalogue in a few weeks, if you want to check it out and see if you agree with Sarah's review.

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

"The Night Circus" really is a magical book. Morgenstern successfully brings readers into the Victorian era through proper diction, research on clothes, society and speech patterns and the overall style of the writing. The writing is hypnotic, putting the reader in the story as they explore the circus and learn of the history behind the mysterious Le Cirque des Rêves.

Of course, there is a romance between the protagonists Celia and Marco (since that's what is popular nowadays) but it was written sickenly like so many other books are written.

The book was confusing in some parts. There was not enough information on the game/competition between Celia and Marco. The protagonists and the reader never get to properly understand how to fight/win the game though other characters know how but refuse to tell. It took me a while to get into the book (since it's written so differently) but once hooked in I couldn't be released.

Overall I really enjoyed "The Night Circus". It's different from other novels published today, though it is similar as it is about magic and romance. The writing style and story are unique and a pleasure to the repetitive novels out there. I hope Morgenstern keeps on writing.

~ Sarah

Review: Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

Apologies from Kat - I thought I had this set to post on Thursday but alas, you're getting a Tuesday review instead!

Dreamsleeves by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

Aislinn O'Neill is a dreamer. Some of Aislinn's dreams are simple others prove to be much trickier. By the end if the summer Aislinn has three dreams in her Dream Book that must come true: 1) To find a way for her Dad to stop drinking. 2) That her Mom will convince her Dad to buy a house they have been dreaming about before it is sold to someone else. 3) For her crush Mike Mancinello to like her. Each dream is easy and hard in it's own way. When it seems impossible that any of her dreams will come true Aislinn gets a fantastic idea, Dreamsleeves. Wearing your dream (written on a name-tag) on your sleeve for the world to see, her logic: "Who knows...maybe the person you pass on the street or shake hands with...might be the exact perfect person to help you make your wish come true." Aislinn's Dreamsleeves spark hope in her community and they start using them as well in which everyone starts helping there friends and neighbours dream come true.
I was skeptical about reading Dreamsleeves at first when I noticed the age level for the book is between ages 10-14 since I'm eighteen and I thought the book may be written to simply or have a corny story line. However I decided to read it anyways and am so happy I did. Dreamsleeves is so much more than just a girl trying to make her dreams come true. It is about a girl trying to help her family and her community. It is about a girl coming of age and having to deal with the fear of losing her friends and getting her crush to like her back. It is about a girl with an idea that sparks change in her community.
Dreamsleeves is such a beautiful, well written story and I'm so glad I chose this book as my Advanced Readers Copy to pick up. It is a book filled with hope, love and dreams with the message that anything is possible and that we need help with some of of our dreams. Don't be turned off by the age group for this book, it is definitely for all ages!!!

~ Sarah
 

Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Twins Saba and Lugh live in the dying town of Silverlake. It's been months since anyone's seen rain but they're Pa doesn't give up trying desperately to make the rain come through dances, chants and spells. Pa knows the rain will come, he has the rare ability to read the stars. He can see the rain coming but he doesn't know when. Worried for his sisters and angry at his Pa for thinking a spell will make the rain come, Lugh plans on leaving Silverlake with his two sisters. Saba however is fine living at Silverlake as long as Lugh is with her.

Just as the idea is formed Tragedy strikes. A Blood Red Duststorm brings four mysterious men who come and kidnap Lugh. Saba and her Pa try desperately to rescue him and Pa is killed by the horsemen.

Now Saba is alone, well not entirely. She does have her annoying sister Emmi who is half her age.
Now Saba must find Lugh, her twin, the only person who really matters in her life. But finding Lugh may not be as easy as she first thought.

Blood Red Road is one of the best YA novels I have read in a long time. It's deep, emotional and beautifully written. I particularly loved the relationship between Lugh and Saba. I am a twin myself (my sister) and I felt the relationship was written perfectly because, unfortunately, most authors stereotype twins. But not in this novel.

Though this book is amazing, there are some things to get used to when reading. For example, all dialog in the book (and there is a lot) have no quotation marks around them. And there are many misspelled words in the novel to show the characters lifestyle.

In all Blood Red Road is a fantastic read! I recommend it to anyone who loves Dystopian novels, it's one of the best out there.

~ Sarah

Review: The Maltese Flacon by Dashiell Hammett

The Maltese Flacon by Dashiell Hammett

Sam Spade, a private detective in San Francisco has just found the most interesting case of his career. It started with the mysterious death of his partner, Miles Archer, who links him to three mysterious clients looking for one thing: The Falcon. Sam is asked to find the Falcon, promised a large sum of money if he can find it. Can Sam find the Falcon while finding out who killed his partner?

The Maltese Falcon is a very confusing, hard-boiled detective novel. The narration is very confusing giving little detail into the mind of Sam and what goes on around him. The audience is left confused and questioning what is happening in the book with a number of stereotyped female characters. I read this book in my Studies in Literature Class, and I still don't know how I feel about it. It isn't a bad book, it actually has a very good plot. But it's written so oddly. Give it a try if you like mystery novels, I've heard many different opinions on this book.


~ Sarah

Review: The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S King

 In the late seventeenth century, Emer Morrisey was a feared pirate at the top of her game and was ready to give up her pirate life (keeping her enormous treasure however) to a simple one lived with her true love. After burying her treasure for safe keeping, Emer was killed and cursed to live one hundred lives as a dog. Three hundred years later Saffron Adams is born, with her memories of Emer and her lives as a dog intact. As Saffron settles back into human life she plans for the day she will return to Jamaica and recover the tresure she had buried so many years before.

 The Dust of 100 Dogs is a fantastic and well written story. It is historically accurate when writing about Emer's past and very interesting in the peeks of Emer's life as a dog. There are not many words to describe this book. It is different but lovely. The only way to know the magic of this book is to read it! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical literature.

~ Sarah

Review: A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Dr. James Watson has just returned to London after fighting with British troops in Afghanistan. Looking for a place to stay, Watson hears from a friend that another man is also looking for housing, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Watson and Holmes buy an apartment together and as Dr. Watson tries to figure out his new roommate he is brought into a mystery involving a dead man, a word written in blood and a wedding ring. What seems like a strange and insoluble case is no problem for the world's grate detective, Sherlock Holmes.

A Study in Scarlet is the first book in the Sherlock Holmes series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and it is amazing! You always here about Sherlock Holmes, referenced in TV shows and movies but it is another thing to read about him. When reading one is able to learn the great intellect of Holmes and the great force of mystery in the world. Sherlock Holmes is one of those series that you are always told to read but never do. I'm telling you right now that this book, this series is a must read! This book was addictive, mysterious, seemingly insoluble and fantastic! I recommend it to anyone who loves classics, mystery or Sherlock Holmes. 

~ Sarah

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Maya Delaney is a sixteen year old girl living in the small town of Salmon Creek located on Vancouver Island. It sounds normal enough except that Salmon Creek is a medical research town made for it's employees, inviting there families to stay. But Maya, as well as everyone else in town has gotten used to the medical research and the interests the town has taken in it's teen residence. But what Maya hasn't gotten over is the death of her friend Serena (which happened a year before the events in the book), her high-schools swim team captain, drown last summer. But Maya knows Serena's death wasn't an accident. She witnessed it. A year later strange things are happening in Salmon Creek, more cougars start showing up in town, her best friend Daniel starts having strange feelings or intuitions to others and the new guy in school Rafe starts taking an interest in her.

The Gathering is an amazing new book by Kelley Armstrong!!! Though it isn't much of an action packed story the writing style is much better than the Darkest Powers series. Also the set up the story leaves the reader eaquarly awaiting more. I cannot wait until The Gathering come out!!! :):):)

~ Sarah

Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusack

The Book Thief by Markus Zusack

The Book Thief is one of those books that you have to read once a year so you never forget the beauty of the story. Meet Liesel Meminger, an illiterate German girl moved to Munich during WWII when her mother can no longer take care of her. On the way to Munich, Liesel is faced with the loss of her brother and when attending the funeral of her brother sees a man drop a book which she steals. Finally in Munich when Liesel lives with the foul mouthed Rosa Hubermann and loving Hans Hubermann she learns how to toughen herself and how to deal with the hard times of War. Her loving foster father Hans Hubermann teaches her how to read from her stolen book and she grows a thirst for words. During her time in Munich Liesel discovers the horrors of War and coming of age.

The Book Thief is a beautiful book that really changes the way you look at the world and books; how you can go by your whole life without noticing the little things and the true value of words. One of the most interesting things about The Book Thief is that it's narrated by Death. Markus Zusack gives Death a voice and a new character I've never seen before.

The Book Thief is indescribably beautiful. This is a book I recommend everyone read, it really does make you look at things differently.


- Sarah :):):)

Review: The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Though slow at the beginning Sara Shepard's new series The Lying Game is something that keeps you guessing and wondering.

Meet Emma Paxton, a foster child living in Las Vegas with her current foster family. At the beginning of the novel her foster family threatens to kick Emma out after finding a video of her online being choked. The only problem is, it wasn't Emma. After much research Emma comes to believe she has a twin sister named Sutton Mercer. After contacting her twin online, she  receives a message from Sutton telling Emma to come down to Arizona so they could meet. Another problem: Sutton’s dead and couldn’t have sent the message.Emma goes to Arizona where Sutton’s friends, family and classmates think Emma is Sutton. After discovering Sutton is dead Emma decides she has to find out who her twins killer is.

The Lying Game was a bit childish and slow at the beginning but the plot does thicken into a murder mystery that Emma must solve on her own.

One of the most interesting things in the novel is the narration. Sutton narrates (invisible to Emma) in first person the few details she remembers in her life but for most of the novel she narrates in third person detailing Emma’s everyday actions. Sutton can also only see what Emma sees and go where she goes. For examples, if Emma sleeps Sutton fades out and watches her dreams.

In all, The Lying Game is a fantastic new series by Sara Shepard! I can’t wait until Never Have I Ever (the second book in the series) comes out!

~ Sarah

Review: My Worst Best Friend by Dyan Sheldon

My Worst Best Friend by Dyan Sheldon

Gracie and Savanna are best friends and have nothing in common with each other. Savanna is popular, shallow and beautiful while Gracie is shy, smart and lizard obsessed. Somehow despite there differences they remain joined at the hips best friends. But suddenly Gracie starts to notice Savanna's talent of lying and manipulating her and others and starts to woner if Savanna really is her best friend or worst friend.

To be blunt, I hated this book. From the first line the story was predictable and the characters horribly stereotypical! Savanna is the typical shallow, idiotic popular girl that has become so "popular" in pop culture and Gracie is Savanna's best friend and the typical Mary Sue who is shy, never saying a bad thing about anyone and boring! Why is it that some people feel they need to stereotype they're characters! Am I really supposed to walk down the street or go to school and find these two walking around? Another thing I hated was that these girls are supposed to be best friends when all I see is Savanna being idiotic to get things her way and Gracie plainly agreeing. Sure it mentions all these great things of there friendship, them being "cosmic twins" and such but I didn't see it. Another thing that bothered me was how Sheldon wrote the dialog for Savanna. Savanna spoke like a stereotypical popular girl saying "like" and "Omigod" way to much running her words together when she was excited.Does this mean I'm going to give up on the genre? Of course not that would be stupid. I will make sure to read more books in this genre because I can't base one bad book on all the other great books out there!

So yeah, basically I hated this book. Enough said but I think my review kind of got that across.

~ Sarah

Kat's note: reviewed from advanced copy from the publisher. This title is available through Interlibrary Loan.  

Teen Review: The Worst Thing She Ever Did by Alice Kuipers

The Worst Thing She Ever Did by Alice Kuipers

Sophie Baxter wants to get her life back to normal. After a summer of unforeseen circumstance Sofie is determined to forget what she saw, not talking or thinking about it and to get back to the way things were. Unfortunately it will be harder for Sofie to go back to they way things were then she thought. Out of nowhere she sees bright orange lights and gruesome memories resurface. Her best friend Abigail is also drifting away from her when Sofie needs her most, wanting to go to parties and obsess over boys instead. The new girl Rosa-Leigh is the only one who might understand her but Sofie seems at a loss for words. Will Sofie ever find the words she needs? Will she be able to get over the past to live her future?
Set in England and written in journal entries "The Worst Thing She Ever Did" is a heart-felt, serious novel that I highly enjoyed. I was hooked from the first line. I found it to be a very genuine novel about a girl who is trying to get over the tragedy of her summer. It's a story anyone can relate to. If you've ever lost someone or been through a difficult time you can sympathize and relate to the main character Sofie. I think also it's a good book for teens who may have been in situations involving loss to show that they won't always be surrounded by sadness, there is a way to overcome it.

I can't think of any faults for this book, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys novels that deal with real life situations and any one who enjoys heart-felt books!!!

- Sarah

Teen Review - The Keepers' Tattoo by Gill Arbuthnott

The Keepers' Tattoo by Gill Arbuthnott

The Keepers' Tattoo is about fourteen year old Nyssa who, orphaned at a young age, now lives in a local Tavern where she works and lives a peaceful life. Occasionally plagued by strange and horrible dreams she thinks nothing of them until she learns she is a descendant to the ancient and forgotten clan of Keepers, once wise and respected by all other Clans until destroyed by the Shadowmen.

Nyssa is hunted because of the strange words inked onto the back of her head which hold mysterious and dangerous power. Now running for her life, Nyssa discovers an uncle, old friends reappear to her aid and the past Nyssa could never remember comes to her in unexpected ways. But as she runs the Shadowmen grow closer. Will Nyssa be able to run away from the Shadowmen forever or will she be caught and the knowledge of the Keeper's forever used for darkness by the Shadowmen.

I admit, at first this book was a chore to read. I found that the first few chapters were unorganized, confusing and went by much too quickly. Finally the book did slow down to a more comfortable pace and became shocking and exciting!!!

I highly recommend The Keepers' Tattoo to anyone who likes reading books with adventure, mythical worlds and mystery. You will not be disappointed!!!

- Sarah aka Rumpleteaserkitty