Review: A Map of the Known World

A Map of the Known World
Lisa Ann Sandell

Official Summary:
Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

What the Pros Say:
Kirkus: The attractive cover will draw romance readers, who are in for a satisfying read if they can get past the first 50 pages.

What I Say:

I haven't read either of Lisa Ann Sandell's previous books, but from poking around on the internet I found out that they were written in verse, which makes complete sense after reading A Map of the Known World. The official summary describes Sandell's prose as "lyrical," and that's an apt evaluation. Some of Sandell's descriptions were simply breathtaking, and that was definitely one of the strongest points of the book.

At the same time, the plot and characters were thoroughly enjoyable. Cora's evolution over the course of her freshman year of high school is painful to witness but realistic, and her attempts to reconcile her memories of the happy boy her brother was in childhood with the angry, brooding young man he became in the years before his death are accurate in their frustration and grief.

Even as she deals with the loss of her brother, Cora is forced to deal with the withdrawal of her father and her mother's overbearing protectiveness--her parents are caught in their own webs of grief, unable to help their daughter cope with her mourning of her brother. Life at school is no better, and as Cora feels her familiar friends falling away from her she's forced to turn to new friends and herself in order to pull herself through her first year in high school, her first Nateless year.

Overall, I enjoyed the book enough to keep me up late finishing it, but I wouldn't say it lives up to some of the other (admittedly amazing, so perhaps I'm drawing the line too high) books I've read recently. I don't have any specific complaints though, and would definitely read it again, so I'll go ahead and say that unless you're anti books about sad things, go ahead and pick this one up.

Review: Cracked Up to Be

Cracked Up to Be
Courtney Summers















Official Summary:

Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud. It isn’t even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her.

What the Pros Say:
SLJ: Marked by explicit language and frank sexuality, this compelling read is taut with tension.

What I Say:

Parker used to be perfect. She used to be the kind of perfect that annoys other people but doesn't allow them to say anything about it; after all, how can you argue with that kind of perfection? But all that's over now, and now Parker is as deliberately imperfect as she once one impeccably flawless. From the very first page Parker's pain and confusion and anger flows off the page freely and honestly. This book captures the voice of a smart teenage girl in immense amounts of pain better than almost any other book I've read recently.

From the very first paragraph, I was absolutely certain that I was going to love this book, and I was not disappointed in the least.

Imagine four years.
Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses, countless drunken antics, pantsings, spilled food, theft, fights, broken limbs, turf wars--every day, a turf war--six months until graduation and no one gets a medal when they get out. But everything you do here counts.
High school.

The author does an amazing job of showing us that violent nature of high school: the constant struggles to stay true to yourself, to overcome actual, serious problems that may be written off as typical teen angst and to keep on fighting through the constant "turf-wars" that compose high school. But at the same time, we also see the small glints of hope that manage to claw their way through the seemingly invincible wall Parker has created around herself.

I loved the relationship between Jake and Parker--the new guy fascinated by the mysterious, dangerous girl, and the damaged girl reluctantly seeking friendship with the one guy who can't possibly know her past, her mistakes--but my favorite relationship in the book was the one between Parker and her ex-boyfriend, Chris. Chris is a typical horny teenage boy; he's crudd and lewd and sometimes insensitive, but he also clearly cares deeply for Parker, and all of her hostility can't quite chase him away.

There were things that I wasn't an enormous fan of: Parker's dog seemed to be a slightly clunky narrative device and the appearance of new boy Jake seemed a little serendipitous, but these small gripes were in no way sufficient to keep me from enjoying this book. It was fantastic and heart-breaking and beautiful, and everyone should run out and read it.

Intrigued?
Check out Courtney Summers' blog here, and then check out an interview with her here.

Book Contests!

This is a weekly compilation of all the contests in the YA book blogosphere, arranged here for your enjoyment. The list is posted once a week, but updated throughout the week, so remember to check back often!


On-Going:

Elizabeth Scott generally has weekly giveaways.

Alyssa at The Shady Glade hosts Contest Monday, and gives away a new book each week.

Stephanie Kuenhert hosts Women Who Rock Wednesdays on her blog, and they come with freebies. Check it out!

There's a new giveaway every week at Free Book Friday Teens (and while you're at it, check out their adult site, too).

Melissa Walker hosts Win-It Wednesdays over at her blog.

Teenreads.com has a monthly Grab Bags of Books contest.

RandomBuzzers has an ARC giveaway every Friday. You have to be a member to be eligible, but sign-up is simple and free, and participating in activities gives you the chance to get other free books!

Linda Gerber hosts Freebie Fridays every week at her blog, so remember to check back.

Carmen Rodriguez hosts Take it Home Tuesdays on her Myspace.

YA Books Central have a couple of giveaways each month, just check on the right on their main page.

Teens Read Too have a monthly contest.

One-Time Things:



Steph Su is giving away two Cara Lockwood novels. (Ends: 4/14)

Katie's Bookshelf is giving away a copy of the Shape of Water (4/15)

Steph Su is giving away a copy of Swim the Fly (4/17)

Aye Captain is having a winter themed giveaway of two cool new books. (Ends: 4/19)

Reading is Bliss is giving away a copy of Cold Hands, Warm Heart. (Ends: 4/20)

Sharon Loves Books is giving away a copy of Me, My Elf, and I (Ends: 4/21)

Reviewer X is giving away a copy of Silver Phoenix, and you can read the author's Pub Story here. (Ends: 4/22)

Rebecca's Book Blog is giving away three simon pulse romantic comedies. (Ends: 4/23)

Korianne Speaks is having an awesome, music-themed birthday giveaway! (Ends: 4/25)

Addicted to Books is giving away four books to celebrate their sweet sixteen. (Ends: 4/29)

Reader Rabbit is having an Ultimate Canadian Giveaway! (Ends: 4/29)

Reader Rabbit is giving away a copy of Miss Smithers. (Ends: 4/29)

Reader Rabbit is also giving away a copy of Courtney Summers' Cracked up to Be (Ends: 4/29)

Carrie's YA Bookshelf is giving away City of Bones and The Summoning. (Ends: 4/30)

Shalonda is giving away your choice of 2 books and a $25 gift certificate. (Ends: 4/30)

Big contest surrounding How to Ditch Your Fairy, by Justine Larbalestier. (Ends: 4/30)

Shooting Stars Mag organized a HUGE contest around the release of Willow by Julia Hoban. TONS of awesome prizes. (Ends: 4/30)

And Another Book Read is having a Spring Giveaway. (Ends: 4/30)

Keri Mikulski is giving away four cool books in her Spring Giveaway! (Ends: 4/30)

WORD for Teens is having an April giveaway. (Ends: 4/30)

Bookluver-Carol is giving away Evermore. (Ends: 4/30?)

Bookluver-Carol is giving away Swoon. (Ends: 4/30?)

Bookluver-Carol is giving away an Elizabeth Scott book of your choice. (Ends: 4/30?)

Bookluver-Carol is giving away a copy of Mackenzie, Lost and Found. (Ends: 4/30?)





This is by no means a complete list, but I keep track for myself and I'll keep ya'll posted as well. If you've got a contest you'd like to have listed, just let me know in the comments!

Review: What They Always Tell Us

What They Always Tell Us
Martin Wilson

Official Summary:
JAMES AND ALEX have barely anything in common anymore—least of all their experiences in high school, where James is a popular senior and Alex is suddenly an outcast. But at home, there is Henry, the precocious 10-year-old across the street, who eagerly befriends them both. And when Alex takes up running, there is James’s friend Nathen, who unites the brothers in moving and unexpected ways.

What the Pros Say:
PW: "Insightfully evoked, Alex, James and their friends will leave a lasting impression on readers."
Kirkus: "Smoothly written and psychologically astute, this story eloquently charts the cross-currents between social status, loyalty and brotherly love."

What I Say:

These two brothers could not be any more different from each other. Alex is all alone; labelled a loser after swallowing Pine Sol at a party, while James is the popular athlete, the boy who gets all the girls, the boy who should be living without a care in the world. At home and at school these boys are like strangers to each other, and neither one is quite sure when, or how, it happened.

My hands down favorite part of this book was the realistic portrayal of Alex and James' relationship. As brothers they want to love and be there for each other, but they've fallen out of the habit and aren't sure how to get back to it. Each feels betrayed by the other--Alex can't understand why James hasn't been there for him after the "incident", while James can't understand why Alex did what he did in the first place. They're frustrated with each other, but they're also afraid of losing each other, and the author's portrayal of that confusing situation is well-done and realistic.

I also like the evolution of each brother throughout the story, both in regards to each other and in the way each sees the world. The changes each brother goes through are thoroughly believable and incredibly understandable, and altogether this is a good, heartfelt read about brotherly love and the traumas of high school.

Review: The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It

The Sweet, Terrible, Glorious Year I Truly, Completely Lost It
Lisa Shanahan

Official Summary:
IN MY FAMILY, when anyone rides the wave of their emotions, we say they're chucking a birkett. When the emotion drives out all common sense, we say they're chucking a big one. The telltale signs are: flaming cheeks, shortness of breath, bulging eyes, and a prolonged illogical outburst.

Gemma Stone is convinced that it's always unseemly to chuck a birkett and that it's actually insane to chuck one in front of a complete stranger. But that was before she fell for a boy who barely knows she exists, before she auditioned for the school play, before she met the family of freaks her sister Debbie is marrying into, before the unpredictable Raven De Head took an interest in her, and before she realized that at the right time and for the right reason, a birkett could be a beautiful thing.

What the Pros Say:
SLJ: "Shanahan's quirky characters are a riot, but the depth of Gemma's growth and heartbreak is genuinely profound."
Kirkus: "Writing with impressive attention to details, Shanahan uncovers life's small everyday details to encourage readers to look again and appreciate."

What I Say:
Gemma's story took me by surprise. Looking at the front cover of this book, with the girl happily blowing her bubble, I was expecting a story as "bubbly" as the cover. Instead, Lisa Shanahan presents a delightfully ridiculous story with a surprising amount of depth.

The love triangle set up between Gemma, "perfect" Nick, and messed up Raven de Head is somewhat predictable, but it's touching regardless of its predictability. Nick, while perfect on the outside, becomes less and less admirable as Gemma gets to know him, while Raven, for all his faults, is undeniably earnest. I appreciated that Gemma was able to get to know these two boys, and herself, through her participation in a school production of The Tempest, which provided an interesting backdrop for the rest of the story.

Mainly, I was impressed by the author's ability to relate a story with serious undercurrents with an enjoyable amount of humor and hilarity. Overall, this is definitely not the basic light read that I was expecting: it has all the humor and fun of one of these novels, with an added dose of food for thought.

Fresh Films

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Review: Melting Stones, Tamora Pierce

Melting Stones
Tamora Pierce

Official Summary:
Four years have passed since Evvy left the streets of Chammur to begin her training as a stone mage. At fourteen, she's unhappy to be on a new journey with her mentor, prickly green mage Rosethorn, who has been called to the Battle Islands to determine why the plants and animals there are dying. Evvy's job is to listen and learn, but she can't keep quiet and do nothing. With the help of Luvo, the living stone heart of a mountain, Evvy uncovers an important clue. Now, with the island on the brink of disaster, it's up to Evvy to avert the destruction that looms ahead.

What the Pros Say:
PW: "The novel is not one of Pierce's more surprising or innovative, but her typically strong characterizations and the superb acting camouflage its deficiencies."

Kirkus: "Related in a strongly individual voice, expertly set in context without longwinded explanations and well-stocked with nuanced characters of several ages and species, this suspenseful tale is lit up with magic."

What I Say:

I think I've mentioned before that Tamora Pierce is one of my faves, but to be honest this one didn't really grab me. I'll admit that I like her Tortall books better than the Circle books, but this one is definitely my least favorite of anything I've read by her. That's not to say it's bad, just that it's not up to par with others. If you're put off by this one, definitely give another Tamora Pierce book a try, because I would say that this isn't characteristic of her strength as a storyteller.

I think the main problem that I had was that the stakes simply weren't high enough. While the characters were as loveable as I have come to expect from Tamora Pierce, the conflict simply wasn't strong enough to keep my interest. Luckily, it's a pretty quick read, and I'm glad I read it, since I couldn't let it go unread, but if you're a slow reader or not already a fan I would recommend starting out with another title.