Title: The Female of the Species
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller
Pages: 352
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Year Published: 2016
Format: Audiobook
"A contemporary YA novel that examines rape culture through alternating perspectives.
Alex craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn't feel bad about it.
Three years ago, when older sister, Anna, was murdered and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best- the language of violence. While her own crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can't be trusted among other people. Not with Jack, the star athlete who wants to really know her but still feels guilty over the role he played the night Anna's body was discovered. And not with Peekay, the preacher's kid with a defiant streak who befriend Alex while they volunteer at an animal shelter. Not anyone.
As their senior year unfolds, Alex's darker nature breaks out, setting these three teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever."
My Rating: 5/5
This book caught me off guard. I wasn't ready to feel so many things and to be shocked by the honesty that Mindy McGinnis put into this book. Was it shocking to read from these perspectives and the things that these characters go through, yes, but it was an extremely important read. I would highly suggest this to men and women of almost all ages. There is a trigger warning for sexual assualt, rape and physical assault. I really was blown away by this story and hope to read more by Mindy McGinnis.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This book totally blew me away, I couldn't get over the correlation with my small town and the way Mindy McGinnis really thinks deeper about how deep rape culture runs in our society. It was shocking, but not in the way I expected. The story has a huge trigger warning for violence, rape and sexual assault. The story follows Alex, PeeKay and Jack. All characters who have a different background in this small town.
Characters:
Alex: I can see how people would be distressed about how she handles her life and people in her home town. I can't blame her, but it was hard to imagine someone who was using their instinct for good, instead of for rape how most of the rest of the town acts. I was surprised to see how her storyline ended, and to see her in the animal shelter broke my heart.
PeeKay: I could relate to her need to break out of the mold and to be more than just the preacher's kid. But at the same time she was so willing to let people use that nickname. At the same time she deserves to be happy, and to find someone who is interested in her not her past or the challenge to get her.
Jake: I was turned off from his point of view at start, but he slowly won me back. He was starting to understand how the women in his life felt throughout their life. I could also understand the need to get out of the small town.
Branley: I tried really hard to understand her and how she felt in society, but she was really frustrating as she just continued to "mess up". I hope that she learned her lesson.
Ray: In my opinion he got what he deserved.
Sarah: I liked that we got the perspective of someone who wasn't interested in men romantically. It was an important perspective to have
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: JK Rowling
Series/Standalone: Harry Potter (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Classic
Pages: 251
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year Published: 1998
Format: Paperback Copy (Own it)
First Line: "Not for the first time, an argument had broken out over breakfast at number four, Privet Drive."
"Harry can't wait for his holidays with the dire Dursleys to end. But a small, self-punishing house-elf warns Harry of mortal danger awaiting him at Hogwarts School. Returning to the castle nevertheless, Harry hears a rumour about a chamber of secrets, holding unknown horrors to wizards of Muggle parentage. Now someone is casting spells that turn people to stone, and a terrible warning is found painting on the wall. The chief suspect- always in the wrong place- is Harry. But something much darker has yet to be unleashed."
My Rating: 4.5/5
I really enjoyed this second book, even more than I remember enjoying it the other times I have read and reread the series. I think that the characters are just so loveable in this book and now that we do understand some aspects of the grounds it was easier to explore the adventure. I also liked that this story focused on relationships with peers a bit more than the first one where we are just getting to know everyone.
I'm so excited about continuing this reread and getting to remember all that JK Rowling's world has to offer.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Series/Standalone: The Heroes of Olympus (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology
Pages: 521
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Books
Year Published: 2011
Format: Audiobook
"Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.
Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem- when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her 'gift' for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wishes she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.
Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him because the only thing he is good at is archery- although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely- enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.
Beginning at the 'other' camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven."
My Rating: 4/5
This is the second book in the highly acclaimed Heroes of Olympus series. I was interested to pick up this book, but due to how long it took me to complete it I found that I started to lose interest in the story line. I was excited to see characters that I'd heard about in the first book, and revisit favorite characters from the original series. I think that the pacing was good, I just don't know if I related to these characters very much. I am excited to continue on with the series as soon as possible through audiobooks.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Four Weeks, Five People
Author: Jennifer Yu
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Mental Health, Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 384
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Year Published: 2017
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "A few words of advice for those attending Camp Ugunduzi for the first time:"
"They're more than their problems.
Obsessive-compulsive teen Clarissa wants to get better, if only so her mother will stop asking her if she's okay.
Andrew wants to overcome his eating disorder so he can get back to his band and their dreams of becoming famous.
Film aficionado Ben would rather live in the movies than in reality.
Gorgeous and overly confident Mason things everyone is an idiot.
And Stella just doesn't want to be back for her second summer of wilderness therapy.
As the five teens get to know one another and work to overcome the various disorders that have affected their lives, they find themselves forming bonds they never thought they would, discovering new truths about themselves and actually looking forward to the future."
My Rating: 4/5
I think that this book is an important read for all youth, but I also think that it was just a case of right book wrong time for me. In another time I might have rated this book a 5/5, but it just didn't seem to click with me 100% this time when I read it. That being said, I really loved the characters and the diverse cast. I think it's important to realize with mental illness that it doesn't just have one face, gender or race. It can look different on everyone.
I also appreciated the idea that it takes time to heal and get better, it's not immediate and not all the characters in the book were magically "cured" which is something I hate.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
I think that I explained my thoughts in the review about how this book probably would have been 5/5 stars if I had been in the right mindset. It was really promising to start but I found the potential romances to be slightly annoying. That being said I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and their illnesses. It wasn't stereotypical, as the characters were not miraculously cured. It really makes you think about the time it takes to feel better and how it isn't a forever cure in most cases.
Characters:
Adam: He broke my heart into a million pieces. I understood how he felt so helpless and how he wanted to get better but wasn't able to do the follow through because the idea of being better was amazing, but the getting there was harder than expected. I would hope with time he would be able to recover.
Stella: I think that I related to her the most. The feeling of giving up and rationalizing whether recovering is even worth it. I'm viewed often as being the most pessimistic in my friend group. Also, the way she reacted to those around her, she seemed callous but the more you got to know her the more you realized that she was too scared to become attached.
Clarissa: I was very interested in her perspective, especially since at the start of the story her OCD was influencing her life so negatively, but as I read, I was a little disappointed that it seemed her relationship with Ben is what really helped her. At the same time, I think that being around people who have similar conditions.
Ben: I was also curious about the way his emotions flowed. I was curious to see how that would pan out in the everyday world and continue to wonder about this.
Mason: This is something I think that was hard to swallow, his character flaws are actually mental illness symptoms.
Jessie: I'm not sure I agree with her tactics of breaking Stella out of her shell, but it seemed to work better for her than the hippie-dippie stuff.
Josh: I think his hippie ways kind of made me happy. He really believed in what he was doing and that it would work to help these teens.
Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "And maybe, for now, that's good enough for me."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Champion
Author: Marie Lu
Series/Standalone: Legend Trilogy (Book #3)
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Young Adult
Pages: 369
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook
"He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?
June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic- and each other- and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles as the Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position.
But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic's border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country's defence. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.
With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu's bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion."
My Rating: 4.5/5
Possibly my favorite book in the series overall. I really enjoyed the storyline and the change in our characters. Hearing about how the world is changing and how the characters emotions towards the government and each other have grown. I really loved the changes in settings and the expansion of the world. The audiobooks narrators did a wonderful job at telling the story and portraying the characters emotions.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This series threw me for a loop. The characters, the setting and the romance was interesting to me, to say the least. I really enjoyed the characters change in pace and the way they were pulled apart. I also loved seeing other parts of the world. Antartica was amazing to see, and an interesting concept. The romance grew on me a lot. At first, I thought it was unnecessary but the more the romance was proved to me the more I wanted to fight for it.
Characters:
Day: I loved how his character handled things. I would do the same. It's easier to leave people behind without them ever knowing than telling them something that would break their heart. I was also glad that he took time to grow into himself, but it was heartbreaking to see that he didn't remember June for so long.
June: I think that she grew alot in this story. She had to understand the politics of the world, and she tried to be with someone other than Day and it just wasn't meant to be. She is an amazing character and I would be interested in a prequel story.
Anden: I didn't appreciate how he was so much like his father at some points in the story. I think he did what he thought was right. Although he and June didn't work out, I'm sure he would find someone else willing to be with him.
Eden: His ability to put others first was unmatched throughout this story. Even though he knew it would put him in danger he was willing to be experimented on again for the greater good.
Tess: I'm glad that she grew up and we got to see her as a more mature adult. I strongly appreciated it.
Title: Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Series/Standalone: Legacy of Orisha (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction
Pages: 525
Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover (Own It)
First Line: "I try not to think of her."
"They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zelie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orisha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie's Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the order of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zelie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zelie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zelie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orisha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zelie herself as she struggles to control her power and her growing feelings for an enemy."
My Rating: 5/5
I was totally prepared not to enjoy this book, after all the hype it received I was cautious about going into it just hoping that it hadn't been overhyped. For me, it totally lived up to the hype for me. The characters were loveable, and interesting to read about. I also enjoyed the setting and the world overall. I was super interested in how the magic worked and the past of the country. I can't wait to continue the series as they come out.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This was a great first installment in this series. I really loved the characters in this book, and the settings. It was interesting to see how the past compared to the present Orisha and hopefully the future. The twists in this book also got me.
Overall the magic system was amazing. I wish I was a Tider.
Characters:
Zelie: I loved how strong she was and how she was willing to risk everything for those she loves. She is powerful and strong like her mother. Her struggles hurt my heart, and I was ready to cheer her on through everything. I really did believe in her relationship with Inan, and it was heartbreaking to see how it fell apart.
Amari: I think that she was strong in her own way. I agreed with how Zelie thought of her at the start of the story, but seeing how she was raised and the things she put up with, I think she might have been the strongest character in this story overall. And she was willing to sacrifice her way of life to help others.
Inan: I really thought that he was ready to commit to a new world where Maji and non-maji. Yet he continued to betray himself and the maji again and again. I'm also not sure if he will stay dead or if he will come back to continue the series.
Tzain: I hope that he and Amari will continue to have this sweet relationship they've been working on, but I'm worried that the loss of Baba will be too much.
Zu: Her loss hit me the hardest out of all the losses (other than Baba), because of how much she believed in the world she was creating. She didn't run from those who stood in her way, she protected those who stood behind her.
King: His fear was based on his past which I would be interested in hearing about his first family and what happened with the Maji clans and the royalty of the past.
Moments to Remember:
Pg. 395
"'You never give up on her,' I shout after him. 'Never. Not once. Even when she cost you everything, you're always by her side.'"
Pg. 513
"I am a princess. A queen.
I am the Lionaire."
Final Line: "Now let's rise."
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
