Book Review: Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnely

Title: Deep Blue
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Series/Standalone: Waterfire Saga (Book 1)
Pages: 340
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Year Published: 2014
First Line: "Deep in the black mountains, deep in the Romanian night, deep beneath the cold, dark waters of the ancient olt, the river witches sang."

"Serafina, daughter of Isabella, Queen of Miromara, has been raised with the expectation- and the burden- that she will someday become ruler of the oldest civilization of merfolk. On the eve of the Dokimi ceremony, which will determine if she is worthy of the crown, Sera is haunted by a strange dream that retells the return of an ancient evil. But her nightmare is forgotten the next day as she diligently practices her songspell; eagerly anticipates a reunion with her best friend, Neela; and anxiously worries about Mahdi, the crown prince of Matali, and whether his feelings toward her and their future betrothal have changed. Most of all, she worries about not living up to her mother's hopes.
The Dokomi proceeds. a dazzling display of majesty and might, until a shocking turn of events interrupts it: an assassin's arrow wounds Isabella. The realm falls into chaos, and Serafina's darkest premonitions are confirmed. Now she and Neela must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the mer nations. Their search will lead them to other mermaid heroines scattered across the six seas. Together they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence."

My Rating: 1.5/5

I don't think that I've ever given a rating that is this low so I'm going to explain before people get ticked off. I went into this book expecting a world of magic and girl power and I was left with juvenile characters and thoughts that seemed incomplete. I understand that this is the first in a series, but it seemed as though the author would come up with an idea and just throw it into the story without thinking through many ways to work it in so it flowed. I found that the flow of this book was off for me. I didn't care for the characters or for the world. I also found that the whole story just lacked a certain amount of magic. I will say that Jennifer Donnely's puns are on point. If you're in it only for the puns, you'll enjoy yourself. I will also mention that the characters felt extremely young to me. I understand that they are 16 for the most part but they seemed closer to 12 or 13 to me. So a younger audience may appreciate this book more.
Needless to say, I don't plan on continuing the series at this moment. 
I would recommend thsi to a middle grade audience for sure.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

So it's only the beginning of the year and I've already found a book that just wasn't for me. Off to a good start, aren't we? Anywho this story is the story of a princess mermaid who is one of 6 chosen ones. It speaks about girl power and attempts to create a magical underwater world. I did find that the history was in depth and interesting. I thought that that would carry throughout but it seemed to lack in the middle. I also found that the time line didn't seem to line up, it didn't flow as nicely as I had hoped. And here's what really got me down in this book, the characters were whiny and juvenile. 

Characters:
Seraphina: Whiny and under developed. I found that this character did not act her age and wasn't ready to take over much of anything. I did empathize that she lost so much, but she didn't seem to care the Neela had also lost so much with her.. Just agravating.

Neela: Her obsession with candy was cute at first but after time it was more frustrating than anything not to mention her slang. I don't have much else to say based on how little I really know about her from the writing style.

Ling: I'm sure they would really just stumble on this girl in the middle of nowhere that's fine.

Mahdi: She's going to end up with the bad party boy, in the end, won't she? I don't' even care to read to find out.


Moments to Remember:
Final Line: "In the time to see Vraja pick up a rock and smash the mirror."


Just a quick note that these are only my opinions and I encourage everyone to make up their own minds about books. Even though this book was not for me, it doesn't mean that someone else wouldn't enjoy it.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Title: A Northern Light
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Pages: 390
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Year Published: 2003

"Sixteen-year-old Mattie Gokey has big dreams but little hope of seeing them come true. Desperate for money, she takes a job at the Glenmore, where hotel guest Grace Brown asks her to burn a bundle of secret letters. But when Grace's drowned body is fished from the lake, Mattie discovers the letters reveal the grim truth behind a murder.
Set in 1906 against the backdrop of the murder that inspired Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, this astonishing novel weaves romance, history, and a murder mystery into something moving, real and wholly original."


My Rating: 4.5/5

I love a book that is shows history in its prime and isn't afraid to show the harsh realities of the time. I truly believe that in order to understand our present, we have to understand our past. Since this book is based in 1906 and told by a young woman, as a reader you get to understand the hardships of a woman in that time and what they were really treated like. I love that this book is based on a true story. The only thing I didn't honestly enjoy about this book is that some of the language wasn't what I imagined would be used in 1906, but I do understand that is must be extremely difficult to write in a language we don't see a lot of today. And this is why I rated this book a nine. I really do believe that all teenage girls who are finishing high school and deciding what to do with their lives should read this book, it has honestly helped me.
THANK YOU JENNIFER DONNELLY FOR SHOWING THE PAST WITHOUT SUGAR COATING IT!

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

As I mentioned in the book review above, I really love a book that shows history as it was. And that is exactly what I found in this book. I found that Mattie Gokey is a character that is easy to relate to because of her age and what she is facing in the times we read about her. I never really realized what country girls faced in the early 1900s. The way that they were treated or expected to act shocked me. Also the setting of this story cause for me to think about my own small town in the time 1906. What would it have looked like? What would the ladies have worn? And on, and on. This book has a way to just spark your imagination.

Characters:
Mattie Gokey: This is our main character and does she ever do a great job on telling the story. She uses words that start your imagination and help you visualize what is happening around her. I loved that in the end she followed her heart, and not just what everyone else told her to do. She took the hard road, even though she knew that things were more difficult that way. I also loved her word of the day, it taught me how much meaning there is in our vocabulary. I'm happy that she helped solve Grace's murder and that she got the courage to leave.

Weaver: I like Weaver because of his stubborn attitude. He brings justice from those who we wouldn't expect. He's not afraid just because he's different from the other people in the North Wood. He sticks up for himself and to  me that takes a lot of courage. I was so upset when his house burned down because of those racist trappers but in the end it all worked out for the best. I did think that by the end that Mattie and Weaver would be "sparking".

Royal: He is really just the farm boy that you expect to see in the country in the year of 1906. He only wants to marry Mattie for the chance that he may get her farm and he doesn't truly love her. I understand that Mattie wants someone to love her, but Royal is not that man. He deserves that Martha Miller she deserves to have no one honestly love her after what she said to Mattie at the picnic.

Pa: I really think that Mattie's pa did want what was best for her, but he couldn't bear someone else leaving and so he tried to hold her. Little did he know that that would only make her run harder.

Emmie Hubbard: I didn't like her in the beginning, because of the way she didn't take care of those children, and I liked her even less after I figured out what Mr. Loomis was doing with her, but in the end I do believe that she was on the right track with Weaver's mamma.


Moments to Remember:
♥Pg. 19
"Mamma would try her best to stay on the porch, to hang back and be proper, but she never could. He would smile at her, and then she was running down the path to him, crying because she was glad he was home with his hands and feet and arms and legs all still attached."

♥Pg. 143
"'You smell terrible!' Lou said, pinching her nose.
  He did, too. Manure and whisky fumes made an unholy combination.
  'What? I smell sweet as da rose! You give your uncle Fracois a beeg keese!' He put out his arms and staggered toward her, and she ran away squealing and laughing."

♥Pg. 186
"She has curly carrot-red hair and eyes the color of molasses. She is tiny. In the same way that a stick of dynamite is tiny."

♥Pg. 208
"Jeezum... What if God was a woman? Would the pope be out of a job? Would the president be a woman, too? And the governor? And the sheriff? And when people got married, would the man have to honor and obey? Would only women be allowed to vote?"

♥Pg. 322
"Fran grinned, 'Never make love in the country, Matt. 'Cuz the potatoes have eyes..'
'... and the corn has ears,' Ada finished, giggling."

♥Pg. 332
"'Dear Mattie,' He began, holding up his lemonade, 'I love you much, I love you mighty, I wish my pajamas were next to your nightie. Now don't get mad at what I said, I meant on the clothesline and not in the bed.'"

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny xoxo