Book Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Publisher: Speak
Year Published: 2011
Format: Audiobook

"It's 1941 and fifteen-year-old artist Lina Vilkas is on Stalin's extermination list. Deported to a prison camp in Siberia, Lina fights for her life, fearless, risking everything to save her family. It's a long harrowing journey and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?"

My Rating: 5/5

Books like this are hard to rate. Especially because it's based on so much horror and historical truth. I'm under the opinion that we must read about the past so we can stop the same tragedies from taking place in the future. It is horrifying to think that something like this could go unnoticed for 13 years. Or if it was noticed the amount of fear that was in the remaining citizens was so high that they felt they could not help for they were protecting their own. I appreciate the fact that the author often tells stories that people haven't heard of before. Or historical events that are not as well known. I will continue to read her works and learn more about our past as humans. Some may argue that she is brutal and violent in her writing and I agree with those statements. But I believe that this a positive aspect in a historical fiction author. We need the whole truth. It's important especially due to our changes in our government and laws today. It was also important to note that many atrocities take place today and we are so privileged to live in the world that we do. 

Thank you for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Half Bad by Sally Green

Title: Half Bad
Author: Sally Green
Series/Standalone: The Half Bad Trilogy (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal
Pages: 394
Publisher: Speak
Year Published: 2014
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "There's these two kids, boys, sitting close together, squished by the big arms of an old chair."

"In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and sixteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan's father is the world's most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his seventeenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch- or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust- not even family, not even the girl he loves?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This is another book that I carried over through the move. I thought that this story was very interesting especially the paranormal aspect. I was interested in the differences in this setting to our own as well as the timeline. I really enjoyed the idea of magical people living amongst us and I know that the idea of good and evil are always interesting to me. 
I think this story did a good job of debating good and evil while still showing signs of struggle on both sides. That being said the middle area of this book seemed to drag for me. The pacing just wasn't quite right for me. I do look forward to continuing the story.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Half Bad by Sally Green

This story really caught me off guard. I found it interesting to read about the good and evil in this world and then those who have no idea what's going on. The world building in this series was interesting and wonderful for me. A good mix of fantasy and reality. I was also interested in the Black Witches and how their world works. The world of the White Witches is easy enough to understand. I'm looking forward to further exploring the both in the next novel.

Characters:
Nathan: He's seen a lot for his short amount of time on this earth. It seems that neither group is interested enough in him to help him. The white witches want to use him and well the black witches seem to hate Marcus, so why help his child? I also wonder what he will do about Annalise and Gabriel.

Arran: I hope he does have an opportunity to live a happy life and almost that he forgets about Nathan. He was one of the only ones who were kind to Nathan. Maybe they will catch up in the future.

Annalise: I wonder about what will become of her. Will she be left there, sleeping forever? Or will he manage to free her, and then will she ever truly understand him and his life?

Mercury: What will she do with people onto her? Will she continue to hunt down Marcus for her sister? And what is the story behind that?

Marcus: What was his life like and why did he become the way he did? How did he meet Nathan's mother? I have so many questions.

Gabriel: I loved him. To think that he could transform into anything and chose to be just an average person is strange. It's ridiculous that he was stuck like that. But where is he now?

Rose: Her death hit me harder than I expected she was one of a kind, willing to work against her own.


Moments to Remember:

Final Line: "Gabriel."

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Series/Standalone: Legend Series (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Dystopian
Pages: 305
Publisher: Speak
Year Published: 2011
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "My mother thinks I'm dead."

"What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbours. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circle. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths- until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets."

My Rating: 3/5

I don't want this rating to get confused with my overall enjoyment of the book. Because I think that I enjoyed this first instalment for the first part. There were a few aspects that I had trouble getting over. This book is very similar to other dystopian's I have read and I found that the romance was too insta-love based for my taste. That being said, when I tried to ignore the romance, I found that my overall enjoyment of the action and story went up tremendously.
I found the world to be intriguing and I wondered about the other parts of the country and what they had become. It's clear that the Republic isn't into telling their citizens the truth, so what are the Colonies really like? 
I'm also curious about how the villains in this story will react to June and Day throughout the next story.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Legend by Marie Lu

This story was interesting to read and maybe because I had built it up in my mind for so long I expected a lot from this novel. That being said, I wasn't completely let down. I really enjoyed the setting and the idea of the United States being split into different "countries" who were at war with each other. I also thought the ideas of power and control were interesting to read about in this story. The things that irritated me in this book were the use of insta-love and the way it seemed to mimic every other dystopian I'd read. That being said, I plan to continue the series and see where our characters go and how the world changes with them on the loose together.

Characters:
June: I was happy to see a girl in such a strong military position, I just wish it wasn't for such a corrupt government. I think that she had a strong reason to continue to work for the Republic until she uncovered Metias's hidden journal entries. I also wonder how she will live life on the run after being used to the finer things in life. 

Day: I liked him. Especially the fact that he had also passed his Trial. After years of thinking that he had failed and was sent to die because of it, it makes you wonder why the government did what they did. I also wonder how he will deal with his budding romance with June. It's more than a little ridiculous.

Tess: She was so strong after having her main supporter taken, she was able to find a way to survive. Unfortunately, it did mean that she had to sign up with the Patriots.

Thomas: The author did a successful job in making my skin crawl with this character. He was willing to do whatever was asked of him in the name of the Republic. He was a cold-hearted man willing to murder his best friend if it was demanded of him (who knows, maybe even if it wasn't). 

Commander Jameson: I wonder how she became so callous and willing to kill for anything. Doesn't matter who. I wonder if she has family, friends, anyone other than the Republic.

John: He was a brave soul to let himself be taken for his brother to escape. That takes heart and love that couldn't be imagined.

Metias: I wonder how he dealt with finding out about his parents and having to keep it from everyone he knew. That's horrible to think about. 


Moments to Remember:

Final Line: "We lie there together, watching the lightning and listening to the thunder, and waiting for the beginning of a rainy dawn."

Thanks for reading,
Sidny 

Book Review: When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

Title: When It Happens
Author: Susane Colasanti
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 310
Publisher: Speak
Year Published: 2006
Format: Paperback Copy
First Line: "'So.'"

"A boy, a girl, and the possibility of something real...

Seniors in high school, Sara and Tobey couldn't be more different. She wants to get into her first-choice college; he wants to win Battle of the Bands. Sara's other goal is to find true love, so when popular Dave asks her out, she's thrilled. But Tobey always creeps into her thoughts. Lucky for Sara, one of Tobey's goals is also to make her fall in love with him. Told in alternating point of view, Sara and Tobey's real connection will have everyone rooting for them from the minute they meet."

My Rating: 1/5

This is a low rating, even for me. This is a book that's been sitting on my shelf for years on years on years. So I pulled it out of my TBR jars and that forced me to read it. And I freaking hated it. It reminded me why I hated YA Romance books in the 2000s. This book was so hurtful to read and used so many tropes. I hated the way the characters acted, were portrayed and the writing just overall. This book uses slut shaming in many aspects of the book and I just couldn't relate to the characters. In my opinion, the author seemed to be writing about teens without knowing anything about teens.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

Wow, I've never rated a book so low and thought so lowly of a book that I read. That is harsh, I'm aware. I just didn't like how the author portrayed teenagers and used stereotypes throughout the story as a whole. I think that this story portrayed teenage boys as only thinking about sex and getting off without thinking about others feelings overall. Even confusing lust and love. The teenage girls in this book were worried about not being pretty enough, smart enough or thin enough for boys to call them and ask them out. I was just so upset throughout this book.

Characters:
Sarah: Spends far to much time thinking about how she's the smart girl, not the pretty popular girl. She also seems to think that if you think about sex and you're a girl you should have the label as a slut. It was so frustrating to read about such a negative sex oriented story.

Tobey: The one thing that made up for this book was the fact that Tobey brought up birth control and it is brought up a few times in this story. I think that his constant narration about how bad he wants to bang Sara is just irritating. I'm aware teenagers are hormonal but girls are allowed to have positive thoughts about sex. Shook. I know.

Dave: Obviously all jocks are jerks and can't be trusted. All they want to do is pressure you into sex and think about having sex with your way hotter friend... right?

Josh: Kinda a blah character.

Laila: Another blah character.

Maggie: I liked her, she was someone I think would have a better perspective for a contemporary novel, that being said if it was written the same way.

Mike: Super static character.


Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and The French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Series/Standalone: Anna and The French Kiss (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 372
Publisher: Speak
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook 

"Can Anna find love in the City of Light?

Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theatre, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's less than thrilled when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year.

But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new people, including the handsome Etienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken- and Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's waiting for?"

My Rating: 3.75/5

This book was a fun little contemporary. I think what really makes or breaks this series for a reader and lucky for me I really liked the majority of our characters. They were relatable in more than a few ways. For example the idea of moving on from high school to college, drinking, finding your true friends and learning who you really are. 
That being said, I think the cheating aspects of this book is troublesome. Especially if people are idolizing the relationship that Anna and Etienne had. I understand aspects of why the relationship took place the way it did, but other aspects were troublesome. The idea of teens thinking that the first part of this relationship is healthy bothers me. 

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Title: I Was Here
Author: Gayle Forman
Series/Novel: Novel
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 270
Year Published: 2015
Publisher: Speak
First Line: "The day after Meg died, I received this letter:"

"It's like she was my sun, and then my sun went out...
When her charismatic best friend, Meg, drinks a bottle of industrial strength cleaner alone in a motel room, a piece of Cody dies, too. Meg was everything to her. How could Cody not know? Determined to find out what really happened. Cody begins a dangerous search to the shadowy fringes of Meg's life where she discovers some unsettling truths about friendship, secrets, forgiveness and love."

My Rating: 4/5

I'm having trouble deciding what to rate this book as I felt so many things throughout reading it. During the first half of the book I found it full of mystery and wondering. I felt along with Cody as she sifted through a life she really didn't know anything about. I was curious about how it happened and more so the why. I have a family history of mental illness and until I was an adult I didn't realise that that's what mental illness looks like. This story is more than sad, it's more than heartbreaking. It's a realisation that sometimes we just get blindsided. We don't know what's going on with everyone around us. It's so easy to get caught up in ourselves and what we need. It's interesting to see it through someone else's eyes and discovers as they discover.
I would warn anyone looking into this book it has a suicidal triggers and I would suggest it for 16 plus.

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny

Spoiler: I Was Here by Gayle Forman

So this book was something that I had trouble rating as it was so filled with emotions and wasn't sure about how I felt with it. I was unsure about my feeling toward the theme of depression, as well as how the characters affected me throughout the story. For anyone who hasn't read this book this book has suicidal triggers.
It follow the story of Cody, who in a way feels left behind by her best friend Meg who commits suicide. Cody has no idea how Meg could do this, because they haven't spoken for a few months. As Cody is at home cleaning house and feeling like she's stuck in a rut, Meg was in college meeting new people and having a completely different experience.
The setting was interesting to me because I also live in a small town and I understand small town stigma. If you see the same people everywhere you want to keep your secrets to yourself. It's useful but also horrible and I think that Gayle Forman really captures this. 
I also would like to note that not everyone's suicide is evident and if you need someone to talk to there is no shame in going to a doctor. Mental illness is an illness no different than heart disease or diabetes. 

Characters:
Meg: So Meg is a character we only get to interact with after she's parted. We learn about her life through investigation and by what people around the main character are saying. I was interested in how she chose to end her life and was hoping that someone else was involved so I wouldn't have to ask the hard questions such as Why? What happened? 

Cody: I feel how she might feel about getting left behind. It must have been hard not to be angry with Meg and with herself for not realising. And then to finally let Ben in that must have been difficult. I also think that it was interesting to see her trying not to fall for Ben and then moving into him as they connect over Meg. I won't lie that I was angry with her for going after Ben, but I also understood it. I hope that with time she learns to live her best life. 

Alice: She's so chipper and I do think that her and Meg and Cody would have made better friends over time. I was interested in how much she knew about Meg, but sadly she hardly knew her at all.

Ben: I think that he has a bad track record. I don't think that he'll change his spots, but one can dream. I don't know maybe I'm just too old for this girl falling for the bad boy shit.  It just made me angry. But learning about his dad and watching him support Cody was heartwarming. I am intrigued about how that turns out though.

The Garcias: Tell your kids friends about their mental illness. They need to know. They shared so much with Cody that I was surprised that they didn't share this important part of life.

Trisha: She kinda comes full circle in the end which makes me happy. But it's sad that it took so long.


Final Line: "Megan Luise Garcias: I WAS HERE"

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny

Book Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched

Author: Ally Condie

Series/Novel: Matched (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance

Pages: 366

Publisher: Speak, an imprint of Penguin Group

Year Published: 2010

First Line: “Now that I’ve found the way to fly, which direction should I go into the night?”

“Cassia has always trusted the society’s choices.

And when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia is certain he is the one... until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

Now she is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one dares follow… between perfection and passion.

Society matched them, but love set them free.

In society officials decide

Who you love.

Where you work.

When you die.”

My Rating: 5/5

I guess I’m finally admitting it. I love dystopia. I know that it’s a strange love because dystopia is all about the what if’s of our society, but that’s precisely why I enjoy it so much. Who's to say that our society won’t fall into The Society. This book brought on different subjects for readers. A place that seems calm and perfect. A place where people follow the rules and don’t get hurt. But just for one minute, what if you didn’t want to just follow, what if you wanted to choose? That’s unheard off, isn’t it?

This book follows the change of following to choosing, from being subconscious to fully conscious. Cassia is learning things that others may have waited years to discover. It interests me to the fullest. 

I must say that this book being a romance wasn’t something I was interested in but considering the subject materials and the choices The Society makes for you it all makes

perfect sense that love should be anticipated and awaited. The only questions is who's the love of her life truly? And if there is not only one what in the world will she chose?

THANK YOU ALLY CONDIE FOR A DIFFERENT DYSTOPIA BASED ON THE NEED OF CHOICE!

Thank you for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo

Spoiler: Matched by Ally Condie

I think this is one book that I’ve read the fastest in a long time, and half way through the book I ordered the other two in the series because I simply could not wait to read more, know more and hear more. I even went to the college cafeteria with friends and said, “Hold on a minute guys, I only have 20 more pages” lucky for me they indulge this behaviour.

Matched follow Cassia a young girl living in a society where choices are not necessary. All her life she has seen the greatness that comes from The Society. The perfect amount of food, the perfect job, the perfect family and generally the perfect life. That is until she is Matched. Although she is Matched to her dear best friend, it doesn’t take long to realize that he isn’t the only match in the system for her. What will she do when she is expected to follow the same rules she has always followed, and will the need for safety overwhelm the one for passion?

I loved this book. It was interesting to think about how much easier it would be to have someone make all our choices for us, but at the same time how disheartening it would be never get a choice. To always know that someone else seems to know what’s better for you and where you belong. 

♥Characters♥

♥Cassia: She starts the novel by loving the society and completely trusting in it. And who can blame her. She has never remembered a time that the society has messed anything up in her personal life. She’s lived a happy life. I think that when she sees the possibilities of a different match she begins to wonder, but when her grandfather is put to death at the ripe age of 80, which is customary in the society, she wonders more and more. After getting to know Ky, I don’t blame her for falling for him. He’s hurt and no one understands him. She just wants to

understand him, and he’s the first person he’s let in. I’m surprised that she chooses to continue Ky even with everyone’s warnings, but what else would you do for love.

♥Ky: Ok I didn’t care for him at first, but he’s definitely got a soft spot in my heart. He came from hard beginnings and although we don’t know all of what he’s had to deal with, we do know that he has had a tough life that can’t be expected to get any better. Even after finding Cassia, they are pulled apart. It’s too dangerous for society to see that they might have a choice. I hope on the front lines he will find a way to join his people uprising in the outer province. He shouldn’t have to fight for something he doesn’t believe in. Ps. What the hell did your parents do? Anything?

♥Xander: This poor soul. Thought he found love and then lost it before he even knew what was happening. I hope that he can recover, but I have a feeling he won’t be matched again. People will likely think he is cursed. How grateful I am that the red pill didn’t affect him, but what happened the other time?

♥Grandfather: I thought that I would include him this time instead of parents because he played such a vital role in changing Cassia’s lense on society. He helped her to imagine more. Some place she could chose and be chosen. 

♥Moments to Remember♥

♥Pg. 188

“When I come out into the foyer, my father and my brother wait for me. ‘You look beautiful,’ my father says.

 ‘You look all right,’ Bram says.

 ‘Thanks,’ I tell him, rolling my eyes.”

♥Pg. 246

“‘I think people should be able to choose who they Match with,’ I say lamely.

 ‘Where would it end, Cassia?’ she says, her voice patient. ‘Would you say next that people should be able to choose how many children they have, and where they want to live? Or when they want to die?’”

♥Final Line: “And they will change from ash and nothing into flesh and blood.”

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo