From Goodreads: Stories tagged under urban life, oblique humor, romance, satire and even the purpose of life. In this book, you will find urban-style, simple prose, sprinkled with thought-provoking metaphors along the way.

Inklings offers a glimpse into the world of intelligent flash fiction, which, while not a popular genre in traditional publishing, is making an impact in online literature.

For an idea of what to expect, an introduction of five of the twelve stories in this anthology follows:

1. “Intoxicated by Impossibility” – The story of one guy who can’t fall asleep because of one girl who’s not even there. Or is she?
2. “Who Wrote the Rules?” – Existential angst clubbed with rebellion against The System.
3. “The Revolt of the Coconut Trees” – Inspired by an academic study published in the Journal of Trauma, 1984, titled “Injuries due to falling coconuts.”
4. “So What?” – What happens after the Storm.
5. “Cheeky” – A story about that chubby part of a certain person’s face.

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I really enjoyed reading this collection of short stories. What I love the most about them is that they range from profound to humorous, incorporating all genres in-between. There is an underlying meaning behind each piece, and though it may take a second look, a closer reading, to get to the heart of each story, it is well worth it. Warrier has selected profound topics for her flash fiction, such as humanity, love and relationships, coming of age, politics, and change, to evoke further contemplation among readers. Though the selections may be short, they speak volumes and push the reader further, philosophically, as the stories take hold of the mind. On more than one occasion, the reader may need to re-read sections of the text in order to grasp all aspects of Warrier’s reflective prose, as each selection incorporates multiple ideas, but as each piece is fairly short, a close reading of the text is easily manageable.

I especially enjoyed “So What,” as it is such a short, yet profound blurb about society. Originally, I laughed, but as I thought about it, and then re-read it, I began to see multiple meanings and underlying messages that are incorporated in this two-paragraph story. “The Revolt of the Coconut Trees” is another favorite of mine. Warrier’s writing style is beautiful and she takes a look at humanity and its presence in the world in this humorous telling of coconut trees fighting back. “Greenie” was a wonderful coming of age story that transcends all cultures and is very touching, and I love that all readers, on some level, are able to identify with this story. All in all, Warrier is an exceptional writer and her flash fiction is a must read. Four stars.

From Goodreads: My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I’m fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family’s—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

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HarperCollins has been extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its release in bookstores today, and though I will admit that I was a little bored in the very beginning of the novel, it soon took off and I was glued to the pages.  I wasn’t sure where the story was going at first, as it seemed to dwell purely on Kate’s inconsolability in the wake of her parent’s death.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but the beginning is actually extremely important in terms of developing Kate’s disposition, as well as that of her sister, Georgina.  Once Vincent came into the picture, the novel really took off, and Plum continued to develop all of her characters.  While the most development happens with Kate and Vincent, the other characters do play a substantial part in the novel, and I enjoyed getting to know them all. 

I highly enjoy Plum’s writing style.  Plum is able to capture the true feelings of the characters through her realistic dialogue and characterization.  It’s extremely easy to read, and I did find myself sucked into the story, lost among the characters and the mystery they evoke.  Originally, I thought Die For Me was going to be another fallen angel novel (which I like), but it wasn’t.  Instead, Plum tackles the ideas of revenants and their job on earth as the undead.  I’ve never come across a book dealing with revenants on this level, and Plum has added some wonderful twists, including the numa, another group of revenants that clash with Vincent and his kindred.  This aspect of the story was really interesting, and I enjoyed uncovering the mystery along with Kate.

I appreciate that Plum allows time for the love between Kate and Vincent to blossom and become real; so many books jump straight from introductions to “love,” in such a short span of time, and it was refreshing to watch this love story develop realistically.  I also loved that the characters didn’t fall for each other blindly; there was real heart and thought behind their decisions, and they do make difficult decisions in order to protect themselves, as well as those around them. 

I highly recommend this novel, and I would love to see it on the big screen soon!  It is packed with action and suspense, and I think it gives Twilight a run for its money.  Four and a half stars.

From Goodreads: Made into the acclaimed film Stand By Me, The Body is a mesmerizing tale of four young boys and their quest to find a dead body, never realizing how much death will affect their lives and their friendship.
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I saw this movie when I was just a young tween, and let me tell you, I fell in love.  I’m not sure if it was the allure of the characters and their “bad boy” image, or River Phoenix, but either way, I watched the movie nearly every day that summer, and have watched it at least once a year ever since.  I don’t remember exactly when I realized the movie was based on a novella by Stephen King, but I do know that, even thought I vowed to find it and read it, I never did.  I’ll blame that all on the fact that, at the time, the internet was new and I didn’t know about searches, etc.  I did look through the college library in town, but I never found The Body and soon forgot about my dire need to read the story as new exciting things cropped into my life.

A few weeks ago, something triggered the memory that Stand by Me was originally a novella, and I began my search anew.  Perhaps I’m just not tech savvy, but I still had a very hard time finding it.  I searched Barnes and Nobel and Amazon, but neither site had the novella in stock for a reasonable price (over $30), and most of them were compact discs anyway—not what I was looking for.  Dismayed, I figured that by this point it was out of print and I was out of luck.  One of my searches, however, pulled up a novel called Different Seasons, and I was curious as to why.  Fortunately for me, I looked into it and found that The Body is actually one of four novellas within the novel, and it was cheap enough.  Yet, I decided to check my school library prior to purchase, especially since I only wanted to read The Body (King’s work is very heavy and I’m not a dire fan) and I’d finally found the actual title of the book it was in.  I’m happy to say that I did find it, eventually, and read it, all these years after my initial inquiry.

And truth be told, I like the movie better.  I know I’m biased, seeing as I’ve viewed the movie so often and fell in love with it automatically, while I’ve only read the novella once.  Of course, the novella is much more detailed and actually answered some of my questions, like why Teddy’s dad held his ear to the stove (it was actually both ears), and what happened between the older gang and the younger gang when they came back from their trek to find the body.  Yet, I think the director of Stand by Me did a superb job capturing the novella on screen and he held true to the important main aspects of the novella.  For instance, the dialogue is straight from the novella, and it think the movie, overall, is a superb retelling—they don’t make movies like this anymore, staying true to the book.

While there are a few discrepancies, such as it the novella taking place in Maine, but in the movie it’s in Oregon, there really weren’t that many changes, until the very end.  Stand by Me, of course, changes the ending around, but it’s still nothing too drastic.  The characters in the confrontation with the gun are switched—but I can’t decide which version is better, and, based on this switch, the focus of the entire novella/movie changes from one character to the next.  Whereas the novella seems to have a focus on Chris Chambers, the movie changes it to Gordie LaChance—but I like both versions, so I can’t decide which is better.  Another big change is the ultimate end of Gordie’s three friends, Vern, Teddy, and Chris.  I’m not going to ruin it for you, but if you’ve seen the movie, just rest assured that Vern and Teddy did not end up the way the narrator says they did in the movie (and I like the book’s version of this one better).  While Chris’s ending is very similar, the age range is wrong, adding a sense of melancholy to this coming of age novella/movie—which I think is what really makes it superb.

To be quite honest, King’s style is really hard for me to read—I think it’s the small print.  He does go off topic on occasion in the novella, and I’m glad they cut that out of the movie, because Gordie randomly launches into a very weird story about sex and hatred, and I was confused during those two chapters and I still don’t see their connection to the novella as a whole.  Yet, aside from that, the novella was great, and I have to give it five stars because it’s really a wonderful story—and of course the movie gets five stars… there’s no question about that!  I guess I recommend reading the novella if you’re an avid reader or want the true story concerning the end, but otherwise, you can get nearly the whole wonderful story from just watching the movie.

Buy the Novella: Paperback or Kindle

Buy the Movie (highly recommended): Blueray or DVD

From Goodreads: I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has been extremely gracious as to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its release in January 2012, for which I am eternally grateful!  This is an amazing novel, and I do mean AMAZING!  I highly recommend it.  Bostic is a phenomenal writer, and her debut novel comes from the heart.  Bostic has created such authentic, vivid characters that, as the reader, you can’t help but feel for them; it’s like they’re your best friends too.  I love Austin and Kaylee, and though the story obviously doesn’t have a fairytale ending, it does offer comfort.  I cried.  This is not the norm; novels very rarely evoke that much emotion from me.  Emotions, yes, but to the point of tears?  Not often.  Yet, Bostic ability to create very real characters, struggling with a very real sickness, is written with such love and care that it’s impossible not to make a connection and be saddened, and heartened, as you read. 

Bostic has taken a difficult topic, one that many have experienced, and created a tale of love and inspiration, as those around Austin must learn to let go and move on, just as he must come to terms with the sickness ravaging his body.  Bostic has touched a part of my soul through her writing, and I am excited to read more!  She’s an up-and-coming author to watch; if you like Gayle Forman’s novels (If I Stay and Where She Went), then you’ll love Megan Bostic!  Five stars.

From Goodreads: Amanda is fourteen when her mother deserts her to be with a new man.  Hurt and betrayed, Amanda loses faith in the world.  To soothe her pain, she retreats into fly-fishing, until she learns that her loving grandmother has terminal cancer.  Amanda struggles to find answers.  Then one day she discovers that her grandmother, against the doctor’s orders, has gone fishing somewhere on the Junction River.  Frightened, Amanda, along with Shana, her adopted dog, and Vernon, a grieving alcoholic, searches the river—but marches into an unexpected, terrifying event that, in a surprising way, helps her learn to forgive and to see the good in the world.

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This is a really well done novelette describing life through an angry fourteen-year-old’s eyes.  I enjoyed it immensely, especially the superb imagery and description Kadish provides in regards to fly-fishing.  I never was much of a fisher, but I enjoyed it as a little girl.  The thrill of catching a fish still weighs heavy in my mind, and through Kadish’s prose I was easily able to envision Amanda as she trekked along the river, dredging up my memories of carefree summers and the palpable heat.  Although I’ve never been in Amanda’s shoes, I believe Kadish does a superb job capturing her thoughts, feelings, and overall struggle as she attempts to cope with her mother’s betrayal and her grandmother’s sickness.  I enjoyed the story, though some of the incidents do seem far-fetched, and while there is some discussion of religion, it is not an overbearing topic within the novel, but rather a touch upon the philosophical side of humanity.  Three and a half stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: The first time Juli Baker saw Bryce Loski, she flipped. The first time Bryce saw Juli, he ran. That’s pretty much the pattern for these two neighbors until the eighth grade, when, just as Juli is realizing Bryce isn’t as wonderful as she thought, Bryce is starting to see that Juli is pretty amazing. How these two teens manage to see beyond the surface of things and come together makes for a comic and poignant romance.

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One of my students recommended this novel for me, so I picked it up the other day.  It’s a pretty quick read, and for the most part I enjoyed it, but truth be told, I’m a little torn about this coming of age novel.  In terms of writing, I think it’s great.  Van Draanen is very talented and she created a cute “he said, she said” novel.  I really enjoyed reading both perspectives of each situation, and I can just imagine how this really happens in boy/girl relationships.  Van Draanen does a phenomenal job capturing the voices of her young teen characters, and I enjoyed that aspect of the novel very much.  However, I found the storyline itself a little boring.  I think part of this has to do with the fact that I’m not a young adult anymore, but even so, I wasn’t enamored with the story like I’d hoped to be.  Reading about chickens and trees isn’t really interesting to me, and although that is just a small portion of the novel overall, all the scenarios seemed a little drab for my taste.

Out of all the characters in the novel, the only one I actually like is Bryce’s grandfather—he’s the only one who seems to have his head on straight.  Juli, I think, is creepy.  She has a stalker mentality and is too easily hurt by others. Bryce, on the other hand, is just a jerk.  While I was originally on his side, his true colors began to show and I began to harbor a dislike for him.  I am thankful for the double-sided view though, as I was able to understand both viewpoints as each character told their experiences, but just the same, the characters irked me.  While it is obvious that the characters change as the story unfolds, my main complaint is that I feel the novel has no ending.  It just stops—and while it may allude to a happy ending, the fact that it wasn’t concluded is what I have a hard time with.  While some readers may enjoy this aspect of the novel, it just wasn’t for me.

So… I watched the movie too, since I’m putting this on the outside reading project for my students, and they’ll have to watch the movie if they choose this book for the project.  Well, I wasn’t impressed.  The acting was alright, and I was glad that the director stuck to the plot line for the most part, but it didn’t dazzle me.  I guess that is to be expected, because the book didn’t hold my attention either, but I was hoping that maybe the movie version would be a little more interesting for me.  I’m sorry to say it wasn’t, but again, my students seem to love this book, so I’m sure they’ll enjoy the movie as well.  Personally, I can only give them two and a half stars all around.

Did you know that you can listen to the audiobook of FLIPPED for free with a FREE TRIAL of Audible for 30 days? Try it today!

Kindle | Audible | Paperback | Hardcover

From Goodreads: Reychel is a slave girl surrounded by magic, lies and manipulation. Her best friend disappears in the middle of the night leaving Reychel to face her fifteenth birthday, the day her master burns his brand into the back of her bald head, alone. She’s sheltered from the outside world and doesn’t have any hope for escape, but when people desperate for freedom ask for her help can Reychel learn to believe in herself?

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First and foremost, what a beautiful cover!  I’m always enticed to read novels based on the covers…  I know, I know, I shouldn’t judge books that way, but when there is such a gorgeous cover, I can’t help but gravitate to it.  Very, very beautiful!

Aside from the cover, though, I was also drawn to this novel as I read the first chapter on Jensen’s blog.  The story is very intriguing and my interest was piqued, so I bought it from Amazon and read it in a few hours (it’s a short read).

While I really enjoyed the story line, and Jensen has a very creative imagination and wonderful gift, I did find that the novel had a few elements that were not to my taste.  I love that the story moves quickly, which is a sure winner for young readers, however, I found that the rapid pace creates some underdevelopment throughout the novel.  Jensen introduces many new characters through the span of the story, yet I never felt like I truly knew any of them.  The characters swiftly move from one situation to the next, which made it hard for me to form a connection.  This, in turn, created a more choppy novel than a fluid one, yet this aspect also fits the novel well as it parallels the main character, Reychel, as she is pulled in multiple directions at once; her whole life being changed on a moment’s notice.

Another aspect I struggled with was the language within the novel.  There seems to be a disconnect between modern and archaic language, and as the novel has a more old-fashioned, historical feel to it, I found some of the dialogue ill fitting as the characters used slang on occasion.  Yet, as this is the first novel in the series, I anticipate that it will continue to get better as Jensen fleshes out the entire story and refines her work.  Anathema is just the beginning, or the foundation, if you will, of a great story.  While I was disappointed that there was not much action in terms of Reychel using her ability as The Cloud Prophet, it makes sense that it will take time for her to develop them.  To counter this, Jensen provides many other twists and turns to keep the action going, which I believe is a testament to her writing capabilities.

Originally, I found myself admonishing Reychel for not being an assertive, strong character—she is quite wishy-washy.  Although she does begin to assert herself more towards the middle of the novel, she again relapses while in the presence of her master.  This character portrayal is actually quite superb on Jensen’s part, as Reychel has grown up in slavery.  She knows nothing but submissiveness, and so it makes sense that her character question everything.  I am glad that Jensen choose to portray Reychel in this manner in the first novel, though I do hope to see a more assertive Reychel begin to develop as the series progresses.

I did enjoy this novel, save a few personal objections, and I definitely think this is a great book for both MG and YA readers alike. and I am very excited to read the next installment, Oubliette, which comes out this June!  I do recommend picking up a copy of Anathema prior to the sequel’s release!  Three stars. 

From Goodreads: When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always-film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so. His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions. The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he’s confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.

Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies. Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her. The Problem? Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels-opposite the very hot Reid Alexander-isn’t going to advance that aspiration.

Graham Douglas doesn’t fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he’ll do it. Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star. Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid’s costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance.

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Have you ever read a novel that causes your heart to pound and puts butterflies in your stomach, because it’s so good?  Well, this is one of those novels, and I highly recommend it!  I loved it!  This is just an absolutely fantastic read, and what a beautiful cover!!!  It’s such a refreshing novel too—I’ve never come across a book like this one, focusing on teenage celebrities!  I really enjoyed myself while reading this novel, and as our nation is always so wrapped up in celebrity activities, this is sure to be a pleasing fictitious tale for all.  Webber does a magnificent job creating a novel around such a fascinating topic, and I was glued to the story from the very first page.

The writing style is superb, and I love the way Webber chose to present the story through the back and forth perspectives of the two main characters, Emma and Reid.  By utilizing this writing technique, Webber allows the reader to step into both Emma and Reid’s shoes through their first person narrative, and it’s a breathtaking way to become one with the characters.  I also loved the inside view the reader obtains in regards to what happens on and off the set, as the actors and actresses come together to create movies for the public.  It was really interesting to read—and it’s a topic I’ve wondered about for years!

It’s a true love/coming-of-age story, and the characterization is just beautiful.  While I love to hate a few choice characters within the novel, Webber has portrayed them all realistically, and I found myself connecting with them all as I read.  The love story portion of the novel is also extremely beautiful, even though I occasionally wanted to shake the characters in regards to their choices, and I even found myself yelling at them, aloud, as I read.  I think that’s an aspect that makes the characters so believable, creating a bond between them and the reader.  Webber is an amazing writer, and she’s an up and coming author to watch!  I am very impressed, and excited for the sequel to this novel—I’m on pins and needles!  Pick it up STAT on Amazon!!  Five stars!

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Check out all the books in this awesome series!

Between the Lines (#1)

Where You Are (#2)

Good For You (#3)

Here Without You (#4)

From Goodreads:  After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia.  By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah’s long-standing debutante society.  She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards.  The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power.  But at what price?

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Hachette Book Group has been so gracious as to allow me review an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its official release today.  However, it pains me to say that this novel was not as enthralling as I hoped it to be.  I was drawn in by the synopsis, and Alex’s snarky attitude was a refreshing and hilarious aspect of the novel, but aside from her perspective, I have to say that this novel just isn’t for me.  I believe the premise for the novel is wonderful, and that many readers will enjoy it, but it just didn’t spark my interest as the story progressed.  I’m not sure why, really.  Crouch is a very talented writer, and I enjoy her style very much, but the mystery of the Magnolia League didn’t pull me in as I had planned, and I felt like it was very drawn out, lacking action.  While there is some suspense behind the true activities of the Magnolia League, I found much of the foreshadowing that Crouch implores to be too telling for my taste.  The novel does leave the reader with a huge cliffhanger, but for me, much of what happened was to be expected and, unfortunately, I personally have little interest in continuing this series.  Two stars.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has been extremely gracious to allow me to review a copy of this novel, through NetGalley, prior to its release today.  The synopsis is as follows, from Goodreads:  Meredith Willis is suspicious of Adrien, the new guy next door. When she dares to sneak a look into the windows of his house, she sees something in the cellar that makes her believe that Adrien might be more than just a creep—he may be an actual monster.  But her sister, Heather, doesn’t share Meredith’s repulsion. Heather believes Adrien is the only guy who really understands her. In fact, she may be falling in love with him. When Adrien and Heather are cast as the leads in the school production of Romeo and Juliet, to Heather, it feels like fate. To Meredith, it feels like a bad omen. But if she tries to tear the couple apart, she could end up in the last place she’d ever want to be: the cellar. Can Meredith convince her sister that she’s dating the living dead before it’s too late for both of them?

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I’m sorry to say that I really did not care for this novel.  I was drawn to it by the synopsis, and in the beginning, I was really into it, but as the story progresses, I feel like it begins to slowly fall apart and become confusing.  One of the main aspects of the novel that is perplexing is the constant flux between first and third person narrative.  Nearly every chapter changes point of view.  Meredith initially begins telling the story, but then the chapters begin alternating between Meredith’s narration and the third person narrative, which explains what’s happening to other characters.  While I don’t think this ruins the novel, I also don’t think it strengthens it.  I like both narrative styles equally, but I am not a fan of their juxtaposition within a novel.  I am more traditional and like a constant writing style present as I read. 

I also was unable to connect to the characters.  I’m not sure if the narration style had anything to do with this, but I never felt like I was able to get to know them.  From what I gathered, the characters really don’t seem to have many redeeming qualities either, and in order for me to fall in love with a novel, I really need to like the characters.

The amount of blood and gore in the novel shocked me.  I don’t mind a little, and I actually come to expect it in zombie novels, but this is not for the faint of heart.  There are occasions within the novel when innocents become meals, and their flesh is stripped from their bodies, piece by piece, while they scream in agony.  That was a little too much for me to handle, and I found myself skimming those sections.  Aside from that, I do think that the premise for this novel is a good one, but it isn’t my forte, hence, I give it two stars.

Just a reminder that these three books release today:

Shine, by Lauren Myracle, is a wonderful coming of age story about a girl putting together the pieces of a mystery involving a hate crime against her best friend.

The Drop, by Jeff Ross, entails extreme snowboarding and a kidnapping plan gone wrong–and is part of the Orca Sports collection for reluctant readers.

Gravity Check, by Alex Van Tol, entails extreme mountain biking and the suspense of stumbling on a  grow-op–and is also part of the Orca Sports collection for reluctant readers.

Pick them up today!!

From Orca Books:  “When James and the rest of them talk about the other guys, their faces get all twisted so that they don’t even look like themselves. I wonder if I looked like that when I beat up that guy. I sure was mad enough.”

From Goodreads:  When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it.  Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice. Against a backdrop of poverty, clannishness, drugs, and intolerance, Myracle has crafted a harrowing coming-of-age tale couched in a deeply intelligent mystery.  Smart, fearless, and compassionate, this is an unforgettable work from a beloved author.

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Abrams Books and their imprint Amulet Books have been so gracious as to allow me review an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its official release on May 1st, and WOW—this is just a phenomenal novel, and I highly recommend reading it!  I was pulled in by the very first page, in which a news article describes the hate crime committed against Patrick, a young homosexual male, living in a small, poverty struck town hell bent against homosexuality.  Using the news article as a starting point, Myracle is able to drop the reader directly into the story, creating a sense of suspense and foreboding from the very first page.  I was so enamored by the story that I read all 376 pages in one sitting, losing track of time and all else around me as I was engulfed by the plot—a testament to Myracle’s wonderful writing ability.

All the characters are extremely real, and Myracle has done a magnificent job creating a story of mystery and suspense, in which everyone is a suspect.  I highly enjoyed following Cat as she acquires knowledge that slowly sets her closer to finding out the truth, though it may cost her her life.  Cat is a wonderful protagonist, and I love how developed she is.  The constant flux between past and present, as Cat explains her life and inklings through her investigation, feeds the reader small bits of information, which in turn helps spur the novel on.  It’s a riveting tale, especially as, like everyone else in town, Cat has secrets of her own.  Yet, her secrets have caused her to pull away from everyone she knows and loves, creating a rift between herself and the community.  It is only through the atrocity of the hate crime against Patrick that Cat is able to rouse from her solidarity and become a modern sleuth, attempting to do that which the police will not: find the offender.

This is a real gem of a story, with great themes about love, forgiveness, and healing, and it’s one I plan to read again and again.  As my first taste of Myracle’s writing style, I must say I was not disappointed, and am excited to read her other work.  Five stars.

From Goodreads: Caleb can’t seem to stop the accidental zombie raisings, the science experiments are murder, and road kill has taken on a whole new meaning; add in the two dudes dogging him at school and he’s about to explode.  When he finally gets the courage to ask Jade out, things start going his way…until her dad starts stalking her and the government starts stalking Caleb. How does he defeat them, protect Jade, and shake the jerks that are making him miserable?

Caleb has the most rare of the paranormal powers, Cadaver-Manipulation (aka corpse-raiser). In this world of the future, with Brain Impulse “pulse” Technology’s wide-spread use and influence keenly realized, routine school inoculation has expanded to include a pharmaceutical cocktail, which once administered, unlocks the genetic potential for paranormal abilities. Using this small window of puberty, teens who have the genetic propensity find themselves manifesting extraordinary gifts; some of which garner the full attention of our government. Caleb must camouflage his new “talent” during the mandatory eighth grade Aptitude Test so that he remains undiscovered while establishing choice for his future. However, events beyond his control systematically reveal Caleb and his friends, which force them to fight for their freedom. In the midst of this struggle, his girlfriend’s father battles to reassert his abusive dominance in her life while a couple of “peer enemies” thwart his efforts of secrecy at every turn. In the explosive climax, Caleb must protect his friends, and Jade, the one he loves…at all costs.

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I really like this novel.  I especially love that the main character is male, as more often than not, lead roles in YA literature are female (why is that?).  I’ve been looking for something along these lines to promote reading among my male student for a while, and thankfully, I’ve now found it.  With a main character that can raise corpses, how can you go wrong?

It is obvious that Blodgett spent a lot of time writing Death Whispers, perfecting the scientific and technological aspects of this futuristic dystopian novel.  I was reminded of one of my favorite TV shows, Heroes, as I read.  While many young adults will come into their special power during puberty, not all will choose to use their powers for good.  And, with many new powers coming to light each year, the government, of course, is going to be on the lookout for any powers that may be politically important.  One main difference, though, is that all young adults know that they may manifest these powers, and they are, therefore, subjected to a mandatory AP test to determine their placements in high school—which I think is a really ingenious idea that Blodgett incorporated into the novel, as it creates suspense in the terms that “big brother is watching you.” 

As the synopsis states, Caleb has a very rare talent, as do a few of his friends, and it was really fun to follow the characters as they discover their different abilities and learn to control and hide them, especially as the ever looming government could easily swoop in at any moment.  What I really love about these powers, especially Caleb’s, is that Blodgett doesn’t sugarcoat them.  For instance, the corpses don’t come back as they were in life, but rather in their various stages of decompose, including the smell.  It was really interesting to read about this, and Blodgett writes in such a way that the reader can easily visualize it (though thankfully not smell it!).

This novel takes place over a few months, and another aspect I really enjoyed was that I was able to keep pace with the timeframe.  Keeping the reader on point with elapsed time can be very difficult for writers, and I’ve read many books in which the events all seem to happen within a day, and no timeline is ever provided for the reader, causing confusion.  Blodgett, however, easily guides the reader through the story without having to state the time and, because of this, the love story portion of the novel becomes feasible, as it obviously doesn’t happen “overnight.”   

The dialogue in the story, as well as the action, was also very well done.  Caleb and his friends banter back and forth much as my students do every day in the classroom, and I catch them doing very strange things in class as well, such as sticking things in their nose and ears…  Blodgett captures the true essence of adolescents in her story, making her novel that much more enjoyable.  As the story unfolds, events seamlessly build off each other, capturing the reader’s attention until the very end.

I know that my favorite character should be one of the main ones, but actually, my favorite characters is Ali, Caleb’s mother.  Why?  As I’m an English teacher and older adult, I find we connect.  She has a strong love for her son and also a strong love for English.  She is constantly correcting Caleb’s language and, as exasperating as that can be to others, I love it!  I do it all the time too; I see myself in her, and I see my students in the young adult characters, solidifying Blodgett’s capability of creating very real characters that we can all connect with in some manner.

Something else I absolutely adore about this novel is the Caleb’s relationship with his parents.  Caleb goes to his parents, first and foremost, when he realizes he’s in trouble.  Most YA novels deal with characters that feel they need to hide everything from the adults in their life, and I loved that this was different.  I’ve read many YA novels in which adults are excluded or deemed untrustworthy, and it was refreshing to finally read a YA novel in which an adolescent trusts his parents.  Caleb goes to his parents on many occasions, and though they can’t always help him, the moral support that is there is awesome, and it portrays parents in a positive light, whereas, more often than not, YA literature portrays adults negatively.  I like this positive reinforcement because that’s an aspect that teens need in their lives—adults who listen and care—yet Blodgett doesn’t paint all the adults in her novel as such, in order to keep with the reality of the world.  Not all the adults (or other teenagers, for that matter) in the novel can be trusted, and Caleb and his friends aren’t obtuse.  They see the warning signs and give their trust sparingly—they have a great sense of “street smarts,” as my parents would put it, and I enjoyed that very much.

Of course, the technological aspect of this novel was amazing.  As it takes place in the future, technology must be vastly different, and Blodgett does not disappoint!  She has taken our current technology and morphed it, creating “pulse” technology in which cell phones read our thoughts and send them virally.  Hence, texting and calling are obsolete.  I loved reading about this, and how the characters used it, and I would live to see “pulse” technology actually come to fruition someday—though that could be a nightmare to us teachers in the classroom…

Overall, this novel was great, and I highly suggest adolescents and adults read it alike.  You will not be disappointed!  Four stars! 

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Watch for the release of Death Speaks, the sequel, late summer!

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When Artie meets his blind date, he’s shocked to discover that when she says she’s a princess… she really does have a fairy godmother.

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Okay folks, this is just too funny.  I laughed out loud and snickered the entire time I read it.  I had the best time reading this short story, and was only saddened that is ended so soon.  I think Patterson is an exceptional writer and definitely one to watch.  I read his novel Mercy the other day, and that was absolutely fantastic (see my review, you need a copy of that novel!).  So, the first thing I did after completing Mercy was pick up a copy of Fairy Godmother-In-Law (it’s only .99 cents), and it was great!  Patterson has sheer talent and he covers all his bases in his writing, leaving no stone unturned and entertaining the reader until the very end.  I suggest you pick up both this short story and Mercy from either Amazon or Barnes and Nobel–you’ll be doing yourself a favor if you do!  Four stars!

HarperCollins has been so gracious as to allow me review an ARC of this novel, through Netgalley, prior to its release tomorrow, April 26th.  The synopsis is as follows: When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

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I am torn on a rating for this novel.  I liked it for the most part; the writing is very well done and it’s a very interesting twist to the usual futuristic novels out there.  However, I struggled with the religious aspect of the novel and the underlying statements about teen pregnancy that it seemed to promote.

First, in terms of the religious aspect, I feel like it was an extremely degrading look at religious groups, zoning in only on the bad and never delving into anything good.  I was reminded of the Amish and their lifestyle as Harmony explains her life in the Church, which wasn’t portrayed in a positive way at all—and only looking at the negative behind any group or aspect in life always taints it.  I do not necessarily think that this was McCafferty’s goal for the novel, but that is how it came across to me, and I was less than pleased with that piece.

In terms of teen pregnancy, I feel like there was too much positive reinforcement for it, and not enough negative.  I am extremely glad that there is a tonal shift within the novel, and that some of the characters undergo changes of heart, yet this portion of the novel was at the very end and seemed rushed; the characters made their decisions quickly, without a lot of explanation.  I would have liked to see much more inner struggle within the characters as they make this change in belief, but I think that is where the next novel will pick up, and I am curious to see how everything plays out.

Aside from those two aspects, I really enjoyed the writing style.  Although I was confused in the beginning by the slang Melody uses (this is a futuristic novel afterall), so was Harmony, and it was nice to figure it all out with her.  I also really enjoyed the back and forth style of the chapters.  One chapter was Melody’s viewpoint, and the next was Harmony’s.  This was ingenious, and it kept me extremely interested as each chapter always ended before all the information was given, so there was never a prime place for me to stop and put the novel down (and I didn’t want to either!).  I read this novel in one sitting, and although not all the characters were as developed as I would have liked, I am sure that further development will take place in the next installment, for which I cannot wait.  Three stars.