The Good Dog Review

As part of my personal young adult challenge I read The Good Dog by AVI. This was the first book I chose off the shelves and the first book I've finished as part of my challenge.

 
When the Wild Calls McKinley, a malamute, is a good dog -- he's reliable and trustworthy. Whether it's watching over the other dogs of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, or taking care of his human pup, Jack, McKinley never even thinks of letting anyone down -- until he meets Lupin. Lupin is a she-wolf and she's urging the dogs of Steamboat Springs to leave their domesticated lives and join her wild pack. And though she scares McKinley, he also finds himself drawn to her and the life of freedom that she offers.

For the first time, McKinley's loyalties are torn. Should he stay with his humans and continue to lead the dogs of Steamboat Springs? Or should he join the wolf and live freely, like his ancestors did? When the wild calls, what will McKinley's answer be?




My thoughts:
I would hesitate to call this a book for young adults. This was more a book for children ages 7-11. That being said, it wasn't a bad book and I did enjoy reading a less well-known AVI book. This book is about a dog, McKinley who has to deal with the struggle of whether is more interested in being a "good dog" or honoring his wolf ancestors. Because the book was more appropriate for a younger audience, the writing was quite simplified and the characters weren't extremely developed. The author did try to put human terms/objects into terms a dog might understand- for example "cold box", "more car place", etc. The book has a heavy message of what it means to be a dog owner and emphasizes kind treatment to animals and viewing our pets as equals rather than possessions.

Overall, this was a simple cute read that I would feel great about giving to any young reader, mostly a young boy who is dog-obsessed or into wolves. I don't think this counts as a young adult book however.

Young Adult Library Personal Challenge

Today I went to the library to return some of the zombie books I had checked out and I was wandering the young adult stacks looking for more books to fuel my addiction, I thought "Huh. I've actually read most of these books. I wonder if I could read all of them." And so my personal challenge was born. 

I have challenged myself to read every book in the young adult section of my public library. Every. One. No matter the subject matter, length, or personal interest. So I started picking random books off the shelves. I'm not going by any particular order. 

This week's books are: 

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

The Good Dog by AVI

In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

I'll still be reading adult books but my main focus will be on my personal challenge so be on a look out for this week's reviews!

Review: The Eye of Minds by Jame Dashner

Earlier this week I finished The Eye of Minds by James Dashner. I'm a huge fan of Dashner's Maze Runner series so when I saw he had started another series, I eagerly snatched the book up at the library. I had high hopes for this novel because I know Dashner is a good author and the summary sounded promising. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I hoped I would. Read on for my full review.

Michael is a gamer. And like most gamers, he almost spends more time on the VirtNet than in the actual world. The VirtNet offers total mind and body immersion, and it’s addictive. Thanks to technology, anyone with enough money can experience fantasy worlds, risk their life without the chance of death, or just hang around with Virt-friends. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun. Why bother following the rules when most of them are dumb, anyway?

But some rules were made for a reason. Some technology is too dangerous to fool with. And recent reports claim that one gamer is going beyond what any gamer has done before: he’s holding players hostage inside the VirtNet. The effects are horrific—the hostages have all been declared brain-dead. Yet the gamer’s motives are a mystery.

The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker.

And they’ve been watching Michael. They want him on their team.

But the risk is enormous. If he accepts their challenge, Michael will need to go off the VirtNet grid. There are back alleys and corners in the system human eyes have never seen and predators he can’t even fathom—and there’s the possibility that the line between game and reality will be blurred forever.

My summary: This book is set in the far future where everyone spends as much time as possible on the VirtNet. You access the VirtNet by laying in your "Coffin"- so named for its shape and how you lay inside it. The coffin then inserts metal wires into your skin and you're off to the VirtNet to experience real life- only realer. Through VirtNet you can enter a variety of games- the typical fight zombies, shoot laser beams, go on epic adventures kind of games. But the most popular aspect of VirtNet isn't the adventures but the ability to experience real life online. You can shop, eat, and hang out with friends in the VirtNet. The books begins with our hero Michael hearing some of the villain's exploits for the first time. The next day, Michael is approached by VirtNet security and is quickly entrusted with a state secret and the mission to find the villian in the VirtNet. Michael brings his friends in for the mission and so starts a dangerous, fast-paced adventure to stop a madman.

My opinion on this book:
This book was way too fast-paced for me to truly enjoyed it. In the Maze Runner series it made sense for the reader to discover the world quickly along with the narrator but this kind of fast-paced world building doesn't work for this book.

I wish we could have been introduced to the VirtNet and the culture of the world before all the action began. It also seemed a little rushed that Michael hears of the villain and the next thing anyone knows, he's being threatened by the VirtNet security to find the bad guy. The way the security team approached Michael was unbelievable. The security team basically kidnaps a 16 year old, threatens him and his family, and then entrusts him with a state secret after he promises not to tell? And then sends the 16 year old off on a dangerous mission with only a "We'll be watching. Your friends can help if they want to." It's not believable. It's not even believable in the "It's a weird culture in the future" kind of way. The adventure is strong and interesting and because it was such a fast read it held my attention but some aspects are just too unbelievable to be entertaining.

The hero of this book felt rather two-dimensional to me as well. It seems like all he cares about is reaching a new level in the VirtNet and he feels really self-absorbed to me. He doesn't notice for days that his nanny has been kidnapped? killed? misplaced? He is approached by VirtNet for his amazing hacker abilities but we actually see his two friends do more of the hacking than he does. The characters just all felt two-dimensional and I can't say there was a character I truly cared about in this book.

The ending was over quickly and to be honest, I was a little confused over what was going on. I didn't know what Michael was doing or why he was doing it. The whole ending was just wrong to me. There was a plot twist revealed in the end of the book that seemed to be a bit of a stretch for the reader to believe.

Overall, I just did not care for this book. I hate giving negative reviews but there were too many issues for me to overlook. I loved Dashner's Maze Runner series but it seemed like he tried to recreate the action in a different setting and it didn't work. This was a book that required more world building and character development. I understand that some books require a suspension of reality but parts of this book were just too unbelievable to be accepted. It was an interesting idea but definitely could have been executed better.

On a positive note, the book was fast and hopefully the plot will encourage more teenage males to read. The idea of the VirtNet is quite interesting.

I have read several positive reviews of this book and it has a high rating on Goodreads so please be aware, this could be my personal issues with this book and you may love it to pieces. I cannot in good conscious recommend this book because I didn't enjoy it but if the plot sound interesting to you and you are willing to overlook the above issues with it, don't let my review keep you from trying this book. I am also fully aware that I may have had too high expectations for this book as I am a huge fan of the author's Maze Runner series. I knew the author was capable of greatness so I held him to that standard.  If I pick up the sequel it will be out of curiosity, not any real excitement to continue this series.

In the end, it is up to each individual reader to form their opinion about a book.That doesn't mean book reviews are useless. It is more a matter of finding a reviewer who seems to have the same opinions on books you do and taking every review with a grain of salt. It also means listening to the issues people have with books and asking yourself if it's something that will bother you or if you're willing to overlook it. If you are just looking for a fast-paced adventure novel set in a high tech world- this book may be just what you're looking for. If you're looking for a solid futuristic read with a world you can explore and immerse yourself in, I would not recommend this book.

Have you read Eye of Minds? What did you think of it? What do you think of negative reviews? Should a blog post a negative review or only write reviews of books that the reader enjoyed? How much world building do you need to enjoy a futuristic book? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Review: 45 Pounds (more or less)- I loved it!

I recently read 45 Pounds by K. A. Barson and I loved it! This is going to be a rave review because I truly loved this book!

Here are the numbers of Ann Galardi’s life:

She is 16.
And a size 17.
Her perfect mother is a size 6.
Her Aunt Jackie is getting married in 10 weeks, and wants Ann to be her bridesmaid.
So Ann makes up her mind: Time to lose 45 pounds (more or less) in 2 1/2 months.

Welcome to the world of infomercial diet plans, wedding dance lessons, embarrassing run-ins with the cutest guy Ann’s ever seen—-and some surprises about her NOT-so-perfect mother.

And there’s one more thing. It’s all about feeling comfortable in your own skin-—no matter how you add it up!

Plot:
This book follows Ann, an overweight teenager, as she signs up for yet ANOTHER diet plan in an effort to lose 45 pounds before her aunt's wedding. She spends her savings on the first two weeks of an infomercial diet plan. We follow Ann as she deals with losing weight, losing her best friend, and coming to understand her mother and what truly is healthy. We are also with Ann as she gains. Gains a best friend, gains her first crush, and realizes everyone deals with weight problems at one time or another.


Characters: 
I loved Ann's voice in this book! Her personality shined through and as a fellow fat-girl, I found myself really relating to her. She is a typical 16 year old girl- she can be a little whiny, a little self-absorbed, and self-hating. This only added to the authenticity of the book. I felt for Ann as she deals with losing touch with her best friend, as she struggles to fit into her blended family, and struggles to love herself when all the advertisements around her tell her not to.

The reader is left wondering about Ann's mother throughout the book. She obviously cares for Ann but we aren't sure if she can communicate that to Ann in a way that doesn't involve food. By the end of the book I was cheering her on and felt entirely sympathetic to her struggles.

My other favorite characters were Raynee and Liberty.

Raynee shows Ann that even people Ann would consider perfect still have issues with their bodies. Raynee also showed Ann what true friendship feels like. She was a great friend- the kind of friend we all love or wish we had.

Liberty is Ann's young half-sister and she is the catalyst for Ann's desire to promote a healthy attitude about food. Liberty has been watching her mother and Ann as they fight different battles with food and she has no idea what to truly think. I felt for little Liberty and I enjoyed the fact that it was out of love for Liberty that Ann decided to be healthy- not skinny. 

Ending:
This book has a happy ending that feels a little too put-together but the reader is satisfied that all lose-ends are tied up. The reader is left feeling upbeat about the direction of Ann's attitudes and her family life. I will admit, I teared up a little at the end because I felt so close to Ann and I could relate to her so well.

Overall thoughts: 
I loved this book more than I thought I would. It might end up being my favorite book of the year because it was so relatable to me. I have been a fat kid all my life- I could be politically correct but I'm not going to be. I'm fat. I am 21 years old and I have only recently LOST weight to be a size 18-20. I've been big all my life, and so has Ann. She went to her first WeightWatchers meeting at the age of 10, around that age I told the first boy I liked him and he told me "Ewww. You're fat." Ann lives with a mother who is so oblivious to the feelings of a fat girl that she suggests Ann buy a bikini for the summer. I live with a grandmother who suggests similar outfits. This is the life of a fat girl and this book is a snapshot of that.

That being said, IT IS NOT A BOOK JUST FOR FAT GIRLS! I had to put that all in caps because my rambling above might have convinced someone that you can only read this book and enjoy it if you are overweight. This is a book for anyone who is dissatisfied with our image- and who among us isn't dissatisfied with something about our bodies? In fact, this story shows the concerns of someone who is overweight, someone with the "wrong" body type for most clothes, and someone who struggles with anorexia. This is a book for everyone.

This is a young adult read that I would let my 12 year old little sister read and that I would suggest to anyone. Yes, I said anyone. It is a contemporary young adult with a compelling message. "Skinny" girls need to read this to see what it is like to live in a fat girl life. I would suggest it to "normal" girls to see how other people feel. And of course, I would suggest it to "fat" girls to see that EVERYONE worries about weight.

If you feel comfortable commenting it, what is your body image struggles? Would you want to read a book about realistic body image? What do you think about my blanket recommendation? Does this sound like a book you're interested in? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Thin Space Review

I was given the chance to read Thin Space by Jody Casella by Beyond Words publishing on NetGalley and I really enjoyed it. It was a compelling read about grief and learning to forgive yourself. Read on for my honest review.

Ever since the car accident that killed his twin brother, Marshall Windsor has been consumed with guilt and crippled by secrets of that fateful night. He has only one chance to make amends, to right his wrongs and set things right. He must find a Thin Space—a mythical point where the barrier between this world and the next is thin enough for a person to step through to the other side.

But, when a new girl moves into the house next door, the same house Marsh is sure holds a thin space, she may be the key—or the unraveling of all his secrets.

As they get closer to finding a thin space—and closer to each other—Marsh must decide once and for all how far he’s willing to go to right the wrongs of the living…and the dead.

 
Plot:
Thin spaces are places where the barrier between worlds is thin. A place where the living and dead can talk. Thin spaces are rare because they only occur where a soul enters the world and leaves the world. The soul enters the world when the mother first feels her baby kick and a soul leaves the world in death. Marsh and Maddie are in search of such a rare place to speak to the dead. Marsh is looking for his twin brother Austin who died when a drunk driver hit them while Marsh was driving. Maddie is looking for her father who died of cancer when she was young.

While Marsh is looking for a place of death, he must also deal with the world of living and Maddie must adjust to a new town. Marsh slowly begins to leave his fog and learn to live again, with Maddie's help. There are school counselors, fights, and long-overdue relationship discussions.

The end of the book has a nice twist that I had guessed a while ago but a casual reader may be taken completely surprised by. I enjoyed the ending and I was left with a sense of hope for the characters and that Marsh was finally learning to forgive himself and believe the accident wasn't his fault. 

Characters:
Thin Space follows Marsh as he searches for a thin space so he can cross into the world of the dead to talk to his twin brother. Marsh is a compelling character. He is consumed with guilt after a passing thought that maybe he doesn't want to always be a twin. Marsh has been walking around in a fog for the past three months after a drunk driver hits their car and his twin brother Austin dies. Marsh has moments he tunes out and is consumed with the events of the night of the accident. The story is a mix of Marsh's flashback thoughts and the present where he is searching for thin spaces. Marsh is determined to find a thin place and fix what happened to his brother. He walks around barefoot in the hopes that he will step into a thin space. I felt for Marsh and found myself liking him. He is a messed up high school junior who has gone from being MarshandAustin to only Marsh who is missing his twin.

Maddie is the other main character of Thin Space. She is the new girl in town- fresh from Nashville. She has a sweet southern drawl and seems to have her own history she is trying to deal with. She seems a bit too accepting when Marsh explains thin spaces but she has her own reasons for wanting to find a thin space. Maddie quickly becomes consumed with the thoughts of thin spaces and researches where people have died so she and Marsh can explore there barefoot.Maddie is a sweet girl and I found myself liking her openness and honest acceptance of Marsh.

My favorite secondary character was Chuck for being such a good friend to Marsh even when Marsh wasn't giving him a very good reason to be so loyal. 

Overall, this was a solid young adult read. I thought the writing flowed well and the characters were developed. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult reads, supernatural elements, and coming of age stories. You can read more about the book at thinspacebook.com and the author has a mix of bonus materials on her blog. You can find a playlist, a teacher's guide, and other reviews.

What do you think about supernatural stories? Do you find books about death interesting or depressing? Do you like flashbacks in books or not? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Spirit and Dust Review

I stayed up late last night reading Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore. This is the second book in the Goodnight Family series. The author informed me on twitter that each book is an independent novel based off one family- the Goodnights.

 

Daisy Goodnight can speak to the dead. It’s not the result of a head injury or some near-death experience. She was just born that way. And she’s really good at it. Good enough to help the police solve the occasional homicide.

But helping the local authorities clear cold cases is one thing. Being whisked out of chemistry class by the FBI and flown to the scene of a murder/kidnapping in Minnesota? That’s the real deal.
Before the promotion can go to Daisy’s head, she’s up to her neck in trouble. The spirits are talking, and they’re terrified. There’s a real living girl in danger. And when Daisy is kidnapped by a crime boss with no scruples about using magic—and Daisy—to get what he wants, it looks like hers is the next soul on the line.

Setting:

This book is set in modern day America with no obvious distinctions. The FBI is still here and people still go to school. A large portion of the story happens at  The Field Museum in Chicago- the one with Sue the T. Rex. 

The characters: 

I really liked Daisy- she was tough and spunky and didn't mind telling a guy he was being a jerk- the actual term she uses isn't as kid friendly. Daisy is matter of fact about her talent- she was raised in a family where everyone was a witch or psychic. She was just born this way and she can see remnants of people's souls and help them pass on beyond the Veil. I love how Daisy tries to convince herself and everyone around her she is a tough-as-nails psychic but her thoughts show her as the typical almost 18 year old girl. 

I thought Agent Tasty- I mean Taylor was a great part of the book. Agent Taylor is a young FBI agent who is Daisy's handler. He works to support Daisy as they work through their cases and doesn't question whether or not she can speak to the dead. Rather he questions how she can interact with the dead. They have a very clear non-relationship with the understanding that something might happen after Daisy turns 18. She won't call him by his first name until she's legal and until then he calls her Jailbait. 

Carson played a main role in the book and I found myself liking him more and more as the book goes on. He played the typical brooding male in a love triangle but he played it well. He had moments of humor and he wasn't overwhelmingly arrogant or prideful. In fact, Daisy does a good job of beating him up at one point and he handles it with humor and without an overabundance of wounded male pride. During the course of the book you realize Carson has his secrets but he would do whatever it takes to protect Daisy. I liked him and was cheering for him during the book.

Plot:

The book held my attention- it actually kept me up- the entire time I was reading it. I was rooting for the characters and following along with the mystery. There was a lot of action that propelled the book forward. I liked the concept of the Goodnight family and how close they are and their talents. 

The book follows Daisy and Carson as they look for Alexis Maquire- daughter of a crime lord- who has been kidnapped. Maquire coerces Daisy to do everything possible to find his daughter- he's not above using magic or blackmail to get what he wants. They quickly realize Alexis was kidnapped by a mysterious cult looking for the Oosterhouse Jackal- what that is they have no idea. So begins an epic quest to find the Jackal before the cult can; save Alexis; and perhaps, save the world.

A good amount of supernatural events unfold in the course of the story but Clement-Moore does a good job of explaining what is going on without overwhelming the reader. 

Series:

 I will definitely be looking for the other books about the Goodnight family. I hope Daisy will pop up again in later books.

Overall, the story held my attention all night and I couldn't put it down once I started. I liked the main characters and while the love triangle wasn't the main point of the story, I could understand why Daisy was torn between the two men. Usually when there is a love triangle I lean toward one man over the other almost immediately but I felt drawn to both Carson and Taylor. The writing was solid and drew the reader on. The book was action-packed but not in such a way that the characters weren't developed. This was a solid read that I really enjoyed. I'd definitely recommend this to people who like a strong heroine and supernatural reads. As long as you're willing to give bad boys a try and stay open minded about psychic talents.

This book was pretty amazing. Have you read Spirit and Dust or another Goodnight Family book? What did you think? Are you interested in supernatural books? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Marty Boggs & The Curse of the Mummy's Curse Review!

Hey y'all! I've been reading and packing the past couple days to go back to school but I just finished up Marty Boggs & The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb! I'll tell y'all how much I loved it and give you the full description in just a sec!

Description from Amazon: Marty Boggs seems to be having nothing but bad luck lately. He has just moved to a new school. That not only makes him the new kid, but the target of the school's biggest bully. Add to that the fact that his grandfather is lying in a coma and his mother has disappeared. What more could go wrong? Oh, yes, some of his best friends are missing and he thinks the new housekeeper may be out to kill him. Marty's grandfather is a famous archeologist and has recently opened the tomb of Kutkara. He sends an amulet from the tomb to Marty's mother, and she soon disappears. Within no time, the grandfather has fallen into a coma and the rumor is that the curse that protected the tomb has caused it all. Delve into the book as Marty decides to play Sherlock Holmes, and perhaps Indiana Jones, both at once. Not only does he encounter mummies, ghouls and ghosts, but there are the additional magicians, monsters and an occasional ancient evil. Marty battles, all with the help of devoted friends, in an attempt to save his mother and grandfather, and even the small town he has just moved into. That is a lot... but a boy's got to do what a boy's got to do. I think the action, mystery and adventure, along with the ghouls and monsters, would hold any young reader's attention. It held mine, and I am far from young.

What I thought about it: I'm not ashamed of my love of young adult books so I'm happy to say I really enjoyed Marty Boggs & The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb!  Marty Boggs is 14 years old and has been going through some rotten luck- and I felt for him. Not only did his mother disappear without a trace but his grandfather was found in a coma and they don't know if he'll make it AND he's the new kid, the new freshman at the local high school. This book was full of mystery and twists and suspense entwined with the normal thoughts and feelings a normal- but maybe physic- young boy would experiencing in these situations. There was a TON of mystery in this book that I really enjoyed. It kept me jumping trying to figure out who was behind the kidnappings in the sleepy little town and in the end I wasn't right at all! I didn't even SUSPECT the true person behind it but the authors did a great job of having the guy explain how and why he's behind it. I really liked this book and I think anyone over the age of 10 will too! It keeps you jumping, there are hints of romance, and it has a good amount of creepiness that I think will appeal to those adventurous boys who are more interested in getting in trouble than reading! I also love how the main character is a 14 year old boy who loves to read! :) You need to read this one. It's on Amazon for just $.99 and if you have a Prime Membership you can read it for free! Find this great book on Amazon here!  And then come back and comment and tell me what you thought of it! :) I would say this one is pretty amazing though it did end with some loose ends and a cliff hanger that makes you burn for the next book in the series! :) 

The Zader Review

Hey y'all! I just finished The Zader by Sara Jo Easton and I really liked it! It was a great book and when I read the description I thought it was going to be something like the dragon riders or pern or some such but Easton managed to create her own unique world!

Summary: 

For ten years, the dragon-like Onizards who dwelled in the Day Kingdom had been ruled by a tyrant who called herself the Fire Queen. Not even the Queen's son, Delbralfi, was completely safe from her scorn and wrath. For a powerless non-nature like Teltrena or a human slave like Jena, life was spent hoping for a better future while fearing for one's life.
     Then, through a series of most unlikely circumstances, Jena found her mind telepathically Bonded to an Onizard hatchling named Senraeno. The only way to survive the Fire Queen's wrath was to fake their deaths and hide in the forgotten Night Kingdom. 
      With the unexpected help of a few new friends, the Bonds are safe for a while, but their real deaths await them if the Fire Queen discovers that Jena and Senraeno are both alive and Bonded. Now, Jena must learn to fight for herself, and she must help the Onizards see that the love and courage in their hearts is more powerful than the Fire Queen's hatred.

What I thought:  
I really liked The Zarder. It was a short book and a quick read but it didn't feel like it was a short book. I mean, the characters were highly developed and the plot was tight. I liked the idea of the Onizards- they're like dragons with wings and horns and all but there are different categories of them. There are the fire Onizards that breathe fire, there are water Onizards that can breathe a yet of high-pressure water, there are earth Onizards that can heal, and wind Onizards which are the fastest ones out there. There are also the Children of the Light who are gifted with empathy and are the rightful rulers of the Onizards. This system wasn't as hard as you would think to wrap your mind around. Easton has provided us with a prologue that contains the Onizards creation story and explains all the different kinds and the Children of the LIght. I liked how the Onizards and the humans had their own parts in this book. The Onizards were intelligent beings who had their own culture and I was pulled in from the start! The book was full of action and intrigue and it has a couple really GREAT twists in it! The Fire Queen is really good at being a villain and while I would have liked to find out more about what made her the evil she is now, you do see her become the Fire Queen was a heart wrenching story itself. There are some great characters in this book that I'd love to read more about. I recommend this to everyone who likes a good fantasy read! This book would be great for readers of all ages!  I think this would be a great read for 10 year olds up! There is some romance between Onizards and some violence but none that would be off putting for anyone out there. :)  I really liked this book and look forward to more books from Easton! :) 


Get The Zader at Amazon here for just $.99!


$.99! :)