Review by Alex- Numbers

Numbers By Rachel Ward
Numbers that pop into her head when she looks into someone's eyes. They're dates, the numbers. Dates predicting with brute accuracy each person's death.

Burdened by such grim knowledge, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. Maybe they can find happiness together, if only in the brief time that remains before his expiration date.

But on a trip to London, Jem foresees a chilling chain of events:
The city's a target.
The clock's running out.
The countdown is on to a blowup.

First Impression: Really intruiging concept, interesting cover. I'd heard about it a little bit beforehand, but really didn't know the plot of the novel. I went in hoping for something good, but without any expectations.

The first chapter, originally meant as a short story, started off well, but I thought the middle dragged, not picking up until around the second half. There are sadly some loose ends- such as that terrorist attack they're running away from. As Jem foresees the deaths of people all in one place, she and Spider run out of the building, only to have the building blow up moments later and their escape caught on camera. They're wanted now by the police, and so their adventure starts with them running away.

The problem for me... was that it took forever to read. Granted, I've been crazy busy, but for a book to take me weeks to finish means that it's not exciting enough for me to not put down. However the end really did pick up, and so once you get into Numbers, it does go quickly.

I found the characters were interesting, and I really liked that they're unusual. Jem's not the typical spoiled girl, having grown up in foster homes all her life after her mom's OD and Spider's not the likely hero/love interest. However, they're not really relatable at times. They were just characters in a novel, one who could see death dates, one who was really awkwardly built and full of energy, but... not a whole lot more. Jem and Spider were fine, but at the same time, not spectacular. The relationship between the two of them would twist, quickly going from nothing to being each other's everything.

Something about the writing is also different. It can be choppy at times, and I don't know if it's the difference between North American and English writing, but it was certainly unusual at first. It's easy to adjust to it though, and soon the writing flows nicely and is easy to read, with only the occasional hiccup.

The plot of the novel is, of course, really interesting, though some parts are a little strange. I found the ending to be quite trite, but it was also fitting. The plot would go in leaps and bounds, sometimes an intense chase scene, sometimes a labourous hike, sometimes strange peaceful intervals.

Since Numbers has main characters who haven't grown up in a spoiled environment, and of course the plot has them on the run, the novel itself is very brutal and harsh at times. But it's also honest and true. It's not extremely uplifting, to say the least. But it can be inspiring.

Final Impressions: I did like it. I thought it was mostly good, though at times it lagged and didn't spark my interest until towards the end. Overall though, an interesting novel that readers who enjoy darker contemporary novels with a twist would enjoy.

Note this! It's set in England, so references like the London Eye and specific places come up, which makes it hard for me, as a Canadian, to follow, but also adds a lot to the setting.

Favourite Character: Probably Spider's grandma. She's quite the old lady.

Add to Shelf: That's up to you. If this sounds like your sort of novel that you'd reread over and over, I would say yes. But otherwise... perhaps not.

Review by Alex- Blue Moon

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning. In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cure Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must chose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows sicker every day...


First Impressions: Read Evermore back in July. (Review here.) I wasn't super excited to read Blue Moon, but I did read it because I was interested in finding out more. Evermore ended well, so I was hoping that would continue over to Blue Moon.



Sadly, to me anyway, Blue Moon's a lot like Evermore. The beginning is slow without much interest, and it isn't until the last third of the book that it really picks up. If you, like me, feel your attention to the book waning, I encourage you to read on, because it does get better.


However, Damen and Ever's dependance on each other grated on me pretty much the whole time. It seemed they couldn't go an hour without each other and sucking face. I'm not too sure how the other characters handled them all the while fairly amused and tolerant (I say fairly- they joke and complain, but they don't go around slapping Damen and Ever like I would have done). Their constant PDA creeped me out. Other than that, the relationship between the two was... well no. I still don't like their relationship. I guess their lack of independance shows how much they love each other?


In Blue Moon, a new character is introduce: Roman. Typical good looking charmer who seems to have everyone wrapped around his finger. But Ever doesn't like him- not one bit. Meanwhile, Damen's power is waning, and he seems to be constantly ill and chugging the immortal juice. Oh my.


For the plot, I really do like it. Mostly the second half, where things finally start to get exciting. There's quite a bit going on, but it works nicely. Also, we finally get to learn Ever's and Damen's histories.


The whole world Noel has created, that mix of alchemy, magic, zen stuff etc. is different and interesting. Summerland is a place I'd love to really learn more about, although we do happily get to know more about it in Blue Moon, as Ever's travelling there quite often.


What brings the book down, is as I said before, the characters. Ever's this completely oblivious girl who fails to see some of the most obvious things. At some parts, I could sympathise. And then all my sympathies would be blown away when Ever makes another silly decision. Damen was interesting, although for the most part he wasn't present enough. Haven, Ever's friend, is ridiculously annoying and I have no idea why Ever is friends with her, excluding being desperate.

The writing's still nice and smooth. It's super easy to read without many glitches. It gets descriptive, but some of it's actually nice- especially the depiction of Summerland.


Final Impressions: It's on the same level as Evermore. The ending's wonderfully exciting with some twists but the beginning's blah. The world's nicely created, but the characters are too annoying for my tastes. I probably will read the third book in the series, but I'm not in a rush.


Add to Shelf: Not for me. The Immortals series is mostly a one read for me, and that's enough. But I'm sure others will suck this series up.


Note This! I didn't mention before, but we also get two new characters: Romy and Rayne, twins who help Ever in Summerland. But who are they? And are they really helping Ever? Duh duh duuuh.

Review by Alex- As You Wish

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.

First Impressions: I'd read so many good reviews that I was really excited to read As You Wish. So much so, that pretty much as soon as I got a copy from the library and finished my other book, I started reading.

As You Wish has the light and funny tone and fast pacing as expected. It's incredibly sweet and had me giggling at many parts. The topics of independance and popularity/invisibility are well approached with a mix of serious and lightheartedness.

What I didn't like as much as I thought I would was the main female character, Viola. For some reason... she grated on me. She is a really kind girl, but she's low on self-esteem and doesn't believe in herself. She wishes to be popular, to be loved how others are loved, to have talent, but she doesn't actually want to use a genie's wish to make that happen. Her heart is in the right place, most definitely. But she lashes out at others, and mopes a lot. It's a little aggravating, because that's pretty much all she ever thinks of.

Minus my issues with Viola, the other characters are very interesting. Jinn, the other narrator, has been a genie for a while now, granting humans' wishes. He's tired of it and wants to go back to his home, where nobody ages and everything is perfect. He thinks Viola will just be another trivial human and nothing else. But he's in for a surprise...

The relationship between Jinn and Viola is quite darling, although everything happens very quickly. In a span of less than a week, it seems that the two fall in love. Jinn, being close to Viola, who's confusing and emotional. Viola, because Jinn truly understands her (although I think it's mostly because he's a genie and can sense wants and desires).

I really do love the fact that Viola grew up with a childhood friend, dated said friend at the beginning of high school for more than a year, but then he realised he was gay and told the truth to Viola and broke up with her. This happened before the start of the novel, but it really caused Viola's fragility and need to be someone's One.

The writing's smooth and flows very quickly. This might have something to do with the fact that the lines are 1.5 or double spaced, so the novel isn't very long at all. It's really easy to speed along and finish As You Wish in less than a day.

The whole magic aspect was well thought and and intergrated in the novel. The genies' powers to meld wishes are described nicely, as is Caliban, the world where all the genies live while not on duty. Then there's the efrits, genies who have trained to push a human to make a wish when needed- and often violence is needed.

The ending was a bit of a surprise for me, actually. The general idea of what happens is pretty obvious, but the how was a pleasant shocker.

Final Impressions: All in all, great premise, magical creatures, nice writing, and well-dimensioned characters, though I sadly couldn't sympathise with Viola. As You Wish is definitely a must-read for fans of Coffeehouse Angel or just sweet, fairy-tale like novels.

Add to Shelf: Maybe if I can find it on sale... Or perhaps in paperback. But I didn't like it enough to buy it in hardcover.

Note This: Viola's actually an artist, which I always love to read about. She feels she doesn't have enough natural talent though. So art plays a huge part in the novel in ways to express oneself. :)

Review by Alex- Academy 7

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
With a past too terrible to speak of, and a bleak, lonely future ahead of her, Aerin Renning is shocked to find she has earned a place at the most exclusive school in the universe. Aerin excels at Academy 7 in all but debate, where Dane Madousin—son of one of the most powerful men in the Alliance— consistently outtalks her. Fortunately Aerin consistently outwits him at sparring. They are at the top of their class until Dane jeopardizes everything and Aerin is unintentionally dragged down with him. When the pair is given a joint punishment, an unexpected friendship—and romance—begins to form. But Dane and Aerin both harbor dangerous secrets, and the two are linked in ways neither of them could ever have imagined. . . .

First Impressions: I saw this book first on someone's blog (can't remember exactly who's now :/) and have been excited ever since. Sci-fi + romance = :D.

I'm not too sure why, but Academy 7 wasn't what I expected. Some good surprises, some bad. Academy 7 is a light science fiction, which you don't really get from the summary or the cover. But opening up the book, it becomes obvious from the first page.

Aerin and Dane both have a tangled past. Aerin is a fugitive, picked up by the Alliance, the ruling government of much of the universe, and deemed bright enough to attend the highest school possible, Academy 7. Dane is a rich and prominent boy in society- his dad, is after all, a general of some sort for the Alliance. He's grown up with wealth, luxury, and a gaping hole in his heart. They meet at Academy 7- the top school for training kids. Aerin hates Dane almost at first glance, Dane is astounded by the strange Aerin who knows so much and so little at the same time.

The romance is predictable, but very cute. The relationship between Dane and Aerin is very delicate and tender, as they both have dark secrets. It's a bit of give and take, but they quickly start spending all their time together. Both characters are well fleshed out and interesting, their actions explained well by their pasts.

The writing however, threw me off completely at first. When I think science fiction, I think dystopian. Dystopian with clipped, utilitarian prose. Academy 7 has anything but that. The writing is very flowery. It seems like the author took her lessons to heart and put in as many adjectives, strong verbs, and adverbs as possible. It's a little much in the beginning, but the prose soon smooths out, as the plot thickens and the excitement builds.

Academy 7, while science fiction, doesn't delve much into how their present happens. I don't believe time is ever mentioned, but there are suddenly many, many planets, some hugely amazing technology, and hovercrafts that don't exist now. How those all came to be, is not explained. Instead, all the new inventions and planets serve as background, and while important, they play second to Aerin and Dane's discovery of themselves and each other. Values are pushed, stretched, and defined, as Aerin and Dane connect their pasts together.

Final Impressions: Academy 7 doesn't exactly pack the punch I was expecting, but it's a great novel nonetheless. At turns exciting, at turns sweet and endearing, it's sure to put a smile on your face in the end.

Add to Shelf: Maybe... I took this one out from the library, and think that's enough for me. But it's a paperback, so it isn't too expensive. :)

Note This: Aerin and Dane are often defined by their parents. Aerin's mysterious and dead dad and unknown mom. Dane's deceased mother and overpowering father. It's very enjoyable and heartwarming for the two to break out of their parents holds and to learn more about their parents connections to each other.

Review by Alex- Rampant

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns...

The sparkly, innocent creatures of lore are a myth. Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. And they can only be killed by virgin descendants of Alexander the Great.

Fortunately, unicorns have been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.

Or not.

Astrid Llewelyn has always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend in the woods — thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to prom — Astrid learns that unicorns are real and dangerous, and she has a family legacy to uphold. Her mother packs her off to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters, all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to — perhaps most dangerously of all — her growing attraction to a handsome art student... and a relationship that could jeopardize everything.

First Impressions: Rampant's very unique sounding. You don't tend to come across novels featuring killer unicorns all too often. I was pretty excited to read it.

But while Rampant kept me interested, it didn't captivate me like I'd hoped it would. Rampant starts off with a bang, namely Astrid's crappy boyfriend being almost killed by a unicorn. (And good riddance) Astrid finally realises that the stories her mother's been telling her since birth are true. She's promptly shipped off to Italy because her mom's a unicorn obsessed eccentric. Her mom's got this wild idea that Astrid can become special and live up to her family name by joining the newly starting up group of unicorn hunters.

If you think Rampant's going to be all magical and sparkly, you're dead wrong. These unicorns are ferocious killers and the hunters don't have powers besides heightened senses. Which are cool and all, but killing unicorns gets really dangerous, with lots of injuries for all the poor hunters.

The hunters. Must be female, must be a virgin, must be descended from Alexander the Great in a specific family line. So there really isn't many girls who qualify. I think there's something like 10 girls? Maybe? This was a big problem I found with the book: I had the hardest time ever attempting to keep track who was who. The main hunters, Astrid, her cousin Phil, and a couple others are very distinct. But some I was so lost with; They've all got unusual names, which I find makes it even harder to differentiate characters.

So yes, the characters are interesting, but some get lost in the background. Astrid's strong and brave and Phil is courageous and stands up for what she believes in. Go girl power! Astrid's mother is a crazy woman who's demanding and forceful, and honestly, not likeable. She also pulls a 180 towards the end that's awfully abrupt. The being-a-virgin part is dealt with well, with some discussions on waiting and not doing it just because tossed in.

The setting's a plus, as Italy's made out to be gorgeous. Writing's done nice and smooth, although awfully descriptive and flowery. It was a little difficult to get into at first, but it's easily accustomed to and then it flows. I had some problems with some of the scenes though. It seemed lots of things were implied, and I'd have to backtrack and reread the passage to understand what was going on. It wasn't straight forward enough, and my poor brain couldn't handle that.

Final Impressions: Overall, an interesting take on unicorns. While I wasn't in love with it, it's worth the while to read. Some epic battles, strong characters, quite a bit of romance thrown in, all on the backdrop of beautiful Italy.

Add to Shelf: Ah, you could. I'm not too sure I will, but if you think dangerous unicorns are up your alley, then I'd say go for it. Remember though, it's hardcover.

Note This! Phil calls Astrid by many different nicknames, including Astroturf and Asteroid. I found that adorable and endearing! The two cousins are really close like sisters, and they have a wonderful relationship.

Review by Lauren - Jumping Off Swings

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles

Ellie remembers how the boys kissed her.

Touched her.

How they begged for more.

And when she gave it to them, she felt loved. For awhile anyway. So when Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, Ellie follows. But their "one-time thing" is far from perfect: Ellie gets pregnant. Josh reacts with shame and heartbreak, while their confidantes, Caleb and Corinne, deal with their own complex swirl of emotions.

No matter what Ellie chooses, all four teenagers will be forced to grow up a little faster as a result. Told alternately from each character’s point of view, this deeply insightful novel explores the aftershocks of the biggest decision of one fragile girl’s life — and the realities of leaving innocence behind.

First Impression: I was interested in reading this, intrigued by the change in characters and the plot, but there wasn't anything grabbing me and pulling me in.

So no, I didn't love Jumping Off Swings. It was a good book though, there was more than one thing that I did enjoy, but nothing I loved.

First was the change in character. We have four people, all different, connected in various ways to this pregnancy. Ellie, of course, is having this baby, and she has enough problems as it is. Caleb, who's been in love with Ellie for years, is simply adorable. I'm pretty sure most guys are not quite like Caleb, but he was a cutie. There's Corinne, Ellie's best friend who's always there for her, but is completely different, and finally Josh, a one-night thing that broke Ellie's heart and is totally confused by the whole "I'm-about-to-be-a-dad" thing. They each had their own issues to face relating to the pregnancy and I liked being able to experience each one from their own point of view.

The chapters were short & a little brief, alternating between characters, and I will tell you, it was a fast read. I got through it in a little less than two hours. This, I found, made the story kindof whiz by, but I don't think it would have worked to drag it out. There simply wasn't enough. I think what really gets you about Jumping Off Swings is just the emotion behind it. Being the same age as Ellie, it really hit me just how hard it would be to get pregnant at my age and have to deal with all that kind of stuff. I can't imagine it.

Final Impression: It made me explore an idea I hadn't really thought about much/hadn't really taken the time to think deeply about. This also coincides with a French presentation I had to do last week about abortion - so that got me thinking too. There was nothing incredibly amazing, but I liked the different dimensions it brought.

4/6 shelves.

Review by Alex- Kiss of Life

Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters
**Spoilers for Generation Dead**
The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay. Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time. While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation. Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends.Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie — her Homecoming date Tommy Williams — her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her . Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave.Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

First Impressions: Read Generation Dead when it first came out and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to Kiss of Life, but in no hurry. Read for Zombie Week (and so this review is crazy late).

Kiss of Life picks up after Generation Dead. And there's lots of stuff going on. Adam got killed saving Phoebe and became a zombie. Tommy and Phoebe's relationship disintegrates. Phoebe is spending most of her time with Adam, who, despite all of Phoebe's and his family's attention, doesn't seem to be able to do much. At the beginning, it takes all his effort to move a hand, to form a single word.

And then there's the whole zombie society. It's zombies vs. humans out there, with a flimsy wall in between. There's no outright war, but zombies have no protection in any laws, being not alive. Tak, and some of the other zombies, are trying to fight back in little ways. They take pleasure in flaunting their zombie-ness and don't try to fit in with the humans. They strive to stick out. They plan to make a difference. But they're awfully creepy...

I really like the whole circumstances, I guess you can say, of the novel. The social issues that arise, all the problems, when teens start coming back from the dead. This is what makes the Generation Dead series stand out. There's starting to be quite a few other YA zombie books out there, but none quite like these. While others tend to be light and humourous, or dark and creepy, I find GD and Kiss of Life walk that fine line between. The best of both worlds. It's really really interesting, how even though I'm doubtful that zombies will ever appear, how relate-able the issues presented in the novels are to every day life. Social prejudice, guilt, being different and standing out, making a statement, trying to make a difference, dealing with high school, coping with bullies, etc. etc. etc. Nevermind all the love problems and triangles.

A down side I find, is the writing. The novel is written in multiple perspectives. Phoebe and Pete (the bully who killed Adam) in third person, Adam in disjointed first person, being the primary narrators. The problem is that the reading is so slow. The zombies speak like "And... you... are nothing like... me." I don't know about you, but when I see "...", I automatically slow down. Of course the speech is necessary for the whole zombie-ness, but I still think it detracts from the reading. Kiss of Life is a thick book, at 410 pages, and it feels even longer, which isn't always a good thing, with all the pauses.

I do however, think that the writing in Adam's point of view is really good. At first it starts off really disjointed, with phrases being short and generally not full sentences. But as the novel progresses, and Adam slowly regains some of his control, the narration gets a little more put together.

Final Impressions: Overall, didn't disappoint. A little slow, especially with the zombie pauses in speech and thinking, but mostly able to hold my interest.

Note This! Tommy blogs in the book, and in real life. There's actually a blog called mysocalledundeath. Check it out here! Whee. I love books that incorporate reading, books, or blogging!

Add To Shelf: Maybe. I'd wait for paperback though. Or take out from your library and see how you like it.

Review by Alex- Fragile Eternity

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone-but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her-but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.

In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.

Thoughts on Fragile Eternity: Very dark, dangerous, complicated. These are not the fairies that prance around, weaving flower petal crowns.

All of the relationships are so mixed up. Nothing is perfect, nothing works. Someone’s always hurt, because of the problems being a faerie/not being a faeries causes. For instance: Seth is mortal and weak. Aislinn is strong and a Summer Queen faerie. Donia is the Winter Queen. Keenan is the Summer King. Seth loves Aislinn. Aislinn loves Seth. Keenan loves Donia. Donia loves Keenan. Keenan and Aislinn feel drawn together- inevitable. It’s this one huge love square that made me want to pull my hair out. Must everything be so darn complicated? Yes, it makes for a good plotline, I suppose, but goshdarnit! I never want to be a faerie.

I liked Fragile Eternity but not as much as the first two. Actually, sometimes it got a little dull and repetitive. Here, I’ll break it down for you:

First quarter and second quarter- relationship problems.
Third quarter- relationship problems and Seth sets out to find a way to become a faerie to stay forever with Aislinn.
Fourth quarter- relationship problems and repercussions of Seth’s actions. Plus some weird mother-son moments.

Basically. Or at least that’s how I found it.

The writing’s good, the characters are fine if a bit meh. Seth becomes increasingly desperate and I came up with a new saying: “Desperation can only lead to disaster- especially if it involves wicked faeries.”

It didn’t help that I remembered nothing of the first two books. Wicked Lovely, the vague ideas and events, Ink Exchange, nothing at all. I had to piece together what little bits the book told to remember what happened. I suggest you reread the first two if you don’t remember them, or else you may end up like me, ruining a good story wondering and being confused.

If Wicked Lovely was Aislinn’s story, and Ink Exchange was Lesley’s, then I suppose this one should be Seth’s? It jumps around a lot though so it isn’t really just Seth’s. Also Aislinn's. It’d be nice if it was Seth's though. I'm wondering who the fourth book will focus on...

The ending was perfect for me. Like that last chapter, the epilogue- yes. It’s just the feeling of openness it leaves. How this one story is done, but another one will surely follow. It leaves no doubt for a sequel while also wrapping up this one nicely.

So in conclusion, this is a good faerie story. If you're in the mood for something like this, read it. But I warn you sometimes it gets a little frustrating to read, what with all the weird relationships.

Review by Alex- The Dust of 100 Dogs

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with the dust of one hundred dogs, dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body -- with her memories intact.

Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

First off, this book is definitely different. It's unique. It's also strange, compelling, interesting, at times confusing, weird, and a ton of other adjectives. I don't think there's one word to describe this book.

The book is told in 3 different perspectives: Emer, the famed young pirate who's tough as nails but didn't start off that way; Saffron, the modern day girl who's a reincarnation of Emer and 100 dogs; and Fred Livingston, a man insane.

The whole deal and narration with Fred Livingston confused me at first. It's a little, "who is this guy and what the heck is he doing here?". But eventually you figure out he must be there for some reason, and just go along with it.

Emer's story is one of a poor, orphaned child who's abused. She finds love and solace in a boy, Seanie. But when she turns 14, her uncle sends her off to be married to some rich, fat man and so Emer runs away. She finds herself on a boat, and through time, becomes a captain of a boat, and through more time, becomes a pirate. Emer's timeline is confusing, especially because it's rotated with Saffron's narration, but usually there are little clues to the times.

Saffron has been birthed into a poor family. They're what you would call white trash. Saffron has retained memories of Emer and of the 100 dogs she's lived as, so of course she knows things. Her family recognizes her intelligence and therefore place her as their salvation- the one to have the brilliant future and make them lots and lots of money. Saffron doesn't like this. Eventually, she leaves on her own to Jamaica to try to find Emer's buried treasure.

There, Saffron meets Fred Livingston, who also narrates. He talks to himself, doesn't go out much, is filthy rich, and owns a huge mansion of which he spies on girls. He becomes a little obsessed with Saffron. He's... creepy and strange. And you find out more of him at the very end.

There are also fun dog facts interspersed throughout the novel.

I've never been much of a pirate person, so a lot of this stuff is new to me. But Emer's adventures are fun and I loved every minute reading them. Saffron, being reminiscent of Emer, feels the urge to mutilate people she dislikes in her mind, which is both hilarious and horrifying. I didn't really see the point of having the dogs thrown into the whole mix of reincarnation, besides there being facts and so Saffron could be more modern day.

And apparently, there's lots of metaphors. Anyone want to explain them to me? I couldn't really understand any of them. I read the interview at the back and it said there were a lot of big meaning metaphors. I must have missed them. :/ I think I need English class to help me.

Overall, The Dust of 100 Dogs is a really fun read. It's unusual and interesting with a big twist at the end that actually kind of scared me. Great writing, unique characters, wonderful setting. It goes from old day Ireland, to old day France, to modern Jamaica, to tons of other places I can't recall. The Dust of 100 Dogs is like a pirate adventure, a coming of age story, a travel book, and a doggie help book all rolled into one.

Review by Lauren - The Comeback

Sophie Donnelly is one half of the most popular and powerful couple in school, until new girl Angie Vogel shows up and compromises everything. Angie steals Sophie’s starring role in the school play, and, worse, her super-popular boyfriend. Sophie has been quickly dispatched to social Siberia, but not for long —she’ll do anything it takes to make a triumphant comeback. From the author of the witty, romantic novel Love in the Corner Pocket comes a story about high school royalty and what it takes to stay on the throne.

I did enjoy The Comeback. I spent a lot of time today and yesterday longing to get back to it and finish. It's a story about Sophie - and I will admit, she is a total bitch - as she loses everything and tries to regain it. And I will admit, she pissed me off. She was cruel and desperate but you just can't help but sympathize with her. I mean, it's got to suck and I'm just thankful that she realises what an awful person she is (mostly thanks to her best friend) and in the end, generally seems to feel remorse for all the stupid things she did.

Plus, it has a cute guy :)

Not long, I know, but I don't have much to say on the subject. I enjoyed it and it was a nice light read.

4/6















Lauren

Review by Alex- One Lonely Degree

One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin

Anything is possible. . . .

Finn has always felt out of place, but suddenly her world is unraveling. It started with The Party. And Adam Porter. And the night in September that changed everything. The only person who knows about that night is Audrey-Finn's best friend, her witness to everything, and the one person Finn trusts implicitly. So when Finn's childhood friend Jersy moves back to town-reckless, beautiful Jersy, all lips and eyes and hair so soft you'd want to dip your fingers into it if you weren't careful-Finn gives her blessing for Audrey to date him. How could she possibly say no to Audrey? With Audrey gone for the summer, though, Finn finds herself spending more and more time with Jersy, and for the first time in her life, something feels right. But Finn can't be the girl who does this to her best friend . . . can she?

One Lonely Degree is C. K. Kelly Martin's second novel, the first being the highly praised I Know It's Over, which I reviewed here. I Know It's Over was actually the first review I ever did on this blog. Gosh, how time flies.

I felt that One Lonely Degree is a mix between Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti. But Speak is much more powerful. One Lonely Degree is mostly the cute, light, summer read that while realistic, doesn't have much deeper meaning. It's straight forward.

Audrey likes Jersy. Finn likes Jersy. Finn is too broken up from her "encounter" with Adam Porter to be able to do anything with Jersy. So Finn gives her blessing to Audrey and Jersy, who for months, date with the excitement from hiding from Audrey's parents keeping them strong. But when Audrey is sent away for the summer after being caught with Jersy... Finn is there with Jersy. And you can guess what happens.

I guess the good thing about that book is that it's fast. The book takes place over several months, but lots of months are simply skimmed through, until summer comes along, so it feels much faster. I was able to breeze through this book, easy, done, whatever.

Some characters, I like. I found Finn relate-able, but also annoying at times. While the whole Adam Porter incident is traumatizing, I found how Finn reacts to it weak, and really, just aggravating. I did like to read about Finn's growth throughout the novel though. She starts out completely dependent on Audrey, but slowly opens up and is able to make new friends. She gets a job. Somewhat grows a spine. Audrey is a bit of a drama queen. Jersy, actually, contrary to others, was probably my favourite character. While he doesn't always do the right thing, he's brave and foolhardy.

The ending was a bit of a surprise. In some ways. It's a bit of your typical ending, but not. I think. I don't know. I liked the ending and how everything wrapped up. It wasn't perfect, but it was realistic and worked well.

The thing with One Lonely Degree, it that it doesn't bring anything new to the table. It's got the realistic characters, the simple romantic plot, the uncomplicated and smooth writing. But it's... average. If you want to read this sort of book, go ahead. You may love One Lonely Degree. I guess I was hoping for more since I Know It's Over handles a difficult topic. One Lonely Degree doesn't. Nonetheless, 4/6. It's enjoyable and fast.













Oh, and I apologize for this crap review. It's been... a week since I read the book, and that means I have very little memory of it. My memory's bad like that.

Review by Alex- Fairy Tale

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

A captivating and witty dark fantasy that will have girls lusting after it.

Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam's cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what's going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan's no longer sure what's best for everyone, or whether her and Cam's love can weather an uncertain future.

Fairy Tale, another book featuring fairies/faeries, puts yet another different spin on the lore of fairies. While some faerie books can be quite dark, such as Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, Fairy Tale takes a lighter take.

Another thing that sets Fairy Tale apart, is that the heroine and narrator isn't actually a fairy. On the contrary, it's her boyfriend who discovers he's a fairy. I love that. To see the world of fairy from a human's eye. Although Morgan... is she really human? Morgan is a psychic- don't know how she is, but she is. She also has some sort of fairy sight. I wish Morgan's powers were explained a little more, because, well, I didn't completely understand how she could have such powers.

While starting the book, I was surprised at how superficial and self-obsessed Morgan is. It's not really a bad thing- but it's certainly different than what I was expecting. Often, characters can be naive and loving, not caring for themselves as much as the sakes of others. You know you can think of characters like that. Morgan isn't really like that. Instead, she's a normal, average teenage girl. Mostly thinking of herself or ones close to her, having self doubts, feeling depressed and down on herself. She's not edited into some selfless, wonderful Disney character.

That isn't to say I didn't have my problems with Morgan though. At times I wanted to whack her on the head. I didn't like how she could pronounce her undying love to Cam, and then have thoughts on Pip. I liked the fairy aspects of Cam. How he kept shrinking while he was becoming more and more fairy. It mirrored his feelings- becoming more and more depressed.

Another thing I quite enjoyed, were all the culture references, like music such as Enya. It makes it more realistic and current. Instead of being some age old fairy tale, it's modern. And with that, it's a modern and different ending. I couldn't figure out how it would end. I'd lean to one ending, then find myself thinking maybe it was another. It's not a typical happily-ever-after ending, but I think it's very suitable.

Overall, Fairy Tale puts a very nice spin on the fairy idea, with lots of fun characters and details. Wonderful, smooth writing too.

Review by Alex- Sophomore Switch

Sophomore Switch by Abby Mcdonald
Take an administrative snafu, a bad breakup, and what shall heretofore be known as "The Hot-Tub Incident," and you’ve got two unprepared sophomores on a semester abroad.

For American party girl Tasha, an escape to Oxford may be a chance to ditch her fame as a tabloid temptress, but wading Uggs-deep in feminist theory is not her idea of a break.

Meanwhile, the British half of the exchange, studious Emily, nurses an aching heart amid the bikinis and beer pong of U.C. Santa Barbara. Soon desperation has the girls texting each other tips — on fitting in, finding love, and figuring out who they really are.

With an anthropologist’s eye for detail and a true ear for teen-speak, exciting new novelist Abby McDonald has crafted a funny, fast-paced, poignant look at survival, sisterhood, and the surprising ways we discover our true selves.

Sophomore Switch is very cute. It's light, it's funny. It's what the cover shows you and exactly what to expect. It is a fast-paced book with slightly heavier tones.

There is two different main characters each with their own story that then intertwine. Tasha is mostly at university in California for the parties. When she parties a little too hard and is filmed doing some pretty embarassing stuff with a big celebrity, the whole of America tears her apart. Her family is ashamed and so she escapes by getting out of the country, to Britain, on an exchange program of 3 months. When Emily's boyfriend dumps her for being too boring and stiff, she attempts to be spontaneous by doing an exchange program.

I really liked Tasha. She starts off quite wild, a party girl. She's used to having a lot of friends and partying. So at uptight Oxford, she doesn't really fit it. She doesn't know exactly what she wants, but she helps people in need, and she stands up for what's right. Sure, she makes mistakes, but she's got a good heart.

Emily isn't really that original. She's the uber-organized, not a hair out of place kind of girl. She's got her whole life planned out, with the help of her parents. She's in Oxford, she'll get a summer intern job, and she'll go off and become a lawyer. But then her boyfriend dumps her- gaaasp. Emily, bent on proving she's not actually boring, goes to California to loosen up.

The two obviously have a tough time at first fitting in. So then they start corresponding by email. They make little lits and tips to help each other fit in better. For Tasha, this means becoming preppy and dressing a lot different. Emily must go shopping, get manicures, party, wear mostly thight polos and short skirts. I don't really like the idea of compromising your wardrobe to fit in. I find that stupid and I wouldn't do it. But I guess... the two girls are desperate and incredibly lonely.

Emily's story line is boring. I found it mostly just filler. Tasha's story is putting the emphasis on feminism and giving the deeper tones. Hers was more original. Emily's life was pretty average, and wasn't all that interesting to read about. It was Tasha that I became invested in and it was Tasha who I rooted for. It's not to say I dislike Emily, but it's Tasha who made the story for me.

Overall, Sophomore Switch is very sweet to read. It's fast and filled, with lots of different characters and relationships. It shows the hardships of two girls struggling in different areas of university. The writing doesn't stand out, but it's smooth and easy to read. Abby Mcdonald is only 24, so the tone and voice is fresh, fun, and sounds young.