Book Review: Full Disclosure by Camryn Garret

Title: Full Disclosure

Author: Camryn Garret

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Hard-hitting

Pages: 290

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"In a community that isn't always understanding, an HIV- positive teen must navigate fear, disclosure, and radical self-acceptance when she falls in love-- and lust-- for the first time. Powerful and uplifting, Full Disclosure will speak to fans of Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon.

Simone Garcia-Hampton is starting over at a new school, and this time things will be different. She's making real friends, making a name for herself as a student director of Rent, and making a play for Miles, the guy who makes her melt every time he walks into a room. The last thing she wants is for the word to get out that she's HIV-positive, because last time... well, last time things go ugly.

Keeping her viral load under control is easy, but keeping her diagnosis under wraps is not so simple. As Simone and Miles start going out for real-- shy kisses escalating into much more-- she feels an uneasiness that goes beyond butterflies. She knows she has to tell him that she's positive, especially if sex is a possibility, but she's terrified of how he'll react! And then she finds an anonymous note in her locker: I know you have HIV. You have until Thanksgiving to stop hanging out with Miles. Or everyone else will know too.

Simone's first instinct is to protect her secret at all costs, but as she gains a deeper understanding of the prejudice and fear in her community, she begins to wonder if the only way to rise above is to face that haters head-on."

My Rating: 5/5

I absolutely loved this book. The romance, the subject matter, and the characters all kept me reading at a fast pace. I loved the fact that this story had such dynamic characters that were easy to distinguish from one another even though there are so many characters. I loved the look at musicals through a high school lens, it really added to the story. The subject matter itself is extremely important to read about, whether to further understand the prejudices against HIV-Positive people or to feel seen in the world. I was glad to hear that the author had done so much research and included people with HIV to read the story and manuscript to make sure that the experiences represented were authentic. Camryn Garrett's storytelling was beautiful and I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Obsidio
Authors: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
Series/Standalone: The Illuminae Files (Book #3)
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 615
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2018
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)
First Line: "Perhaps we should get proceedings under way?"

"Kady, Ezra, Hanna and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza- but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion?

Meanwhile, Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys- an old flame from Asha's past- reappears on the Kerenza, the two find themselves on the opposite sides of the conflict.

With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heroes will fall, and hearts will be broken."

My Rating: 5/5

This! This right here might be my favourite read of the year. I was expecting not to enjoy this one as much as I had enjoyed the first book. I enjoyed the second book just not as much as the first and I had heard that many people didn't enjoy this one or it was their least favourite. I felt completely the opposite. I think this one was my favourite out of the three in the series. And I can say this with complete certainty as I have read all three in the course of the year. 
I think that the use of characters and the different sources of media throughout the series is amazing. I also enjoyed the change of plot points in this third instalment. 
Would recommend to lovers of sci-fi, and adventure plots alike. Or if you're looking for a different read than your norm. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Reread Thoughts: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Series/Standalone: The Illuminae Files (Book #1)
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 602
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2015
Format: Physical Copy
First Line: "So here's the file that almost killed me, Director."

"This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra- who are barely even talking to each other- are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of date to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to the light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again. 

Brief noting: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents- including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more- Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes."

My Rating: 4.75/5

This reread still held up surprisingly well. It wasn't such a shock to read the dossier this time around. I enjoyed the time period and the idea of plague in space it kept the book fast-paced and interesting. There were certain aspects that I forgot about. Characters reactions to certain aspects that happened, different twists and turns that I forgot. I was also impressed at the way the authors wrote the horror aspects in the story. I will say the relationship was a little forced at some points for me but I'm looking forward to continuing my reread of the story.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Title: Station Eleven
Author: Emily St. John Mandel
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Pages: 336
Publisher: Knopf
Year Published: 2014
Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "The king stood in a pool of blue light, unmoored."

"An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization's collapse, Station Eleven tells the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be saviour, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

One snowy night a famous Hollywood actor slumps over and dies onstage during a production of King Lear. Hours later, the world as we know it begins to dissolve. Moving back and forth in the time- from the actor's early days as a film star to fifteen years in the future when a theater troupe known as the Travelling Symphony roams the wasteland of what remains- this suspenseful, elegiac, spellbinding novel charts the strange twist of fate that connects five people: the actor, the man who tried to save him, the actor's first wife, his oldest friend, and a young actress with the Travelling Symphony, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet.

Sometimes terrifying, sometimes tender, Station Eleven tells a story about the relationship that sustains us, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the beauty of the world as we know it."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This was my local book club book for the month and I'm really surprised how much I enjoyed it. This story takes place in the before and after of the apocalypse switching perspectives between many characters who somehow intertwine. I think that the author painted a chilling picture of what the world would be like if things ground to a halt. I loved the writing style as well as the organization of the parts of the story. Everything just made it an enjoyable read overall. I also loved the changing of perspectives between the past and the present and how different people lived their lives in these times.
I would recommend this to lovers of science fiction and dystopian if you're looking for a more relaxed reading experience.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

This story was a very confusing read at first. As many of you know I like to go into my books very blind so this story I knew next to nothing about. I knew that it was dystopian and that it started with a Shakespeare play. So I guess I knew a few things.  I loved the way this story was told the before and afters of the apocalypse was scary to think about. I also liked that it was told from perspectives that were all very different. I also loved the way the author wrote out different years of the apocalypse and helped the reader to understand how things went south and just when things stopped working. I would definitely reread this book, it was super interesting and in an odd way comforting to think about how everything is connected.

Characters:
Arthur: I wonder how he would have survived if he had made it through the "plague" and if he would still be such a jerk overall with the women he had. He seemed to view each woman as an upgrade which was frustrating to read about. That being said, I think it was interesting to see the difference in how he acted with Miranda in the beginning and then near the end of his life. 

Kirsten: Her life would be an interesting one to document especially since she was so young during the collapse of society. She lived a tough life when the collapse happened and lost many people who were close to her. The lengths she went to, to keep her company and others safe. I also hope that her life is happier now that she has entered the airport and seeing progress towards society once again. 

Miranda: I felt for her. Especially being an introvert trying to live the best life that she can when having next to nothing. To be "rescued" and taken care of was disguised as a blessing when really her marriage to Arthur seemed rushed and hasty. 

Tyson: To see him grow into such a crazy character makes you wonder what happened to him and his mother, when they left the airport to "bring the light" also to think that the light would mean marrying underage girls, is scary to think about. But I guess anything is possible at the end of the world. 

Clark: It made me happy to see a character who was able to move on in his life but celebrate his old life. I think having all the memories around him of his past friends and family. Also, all the things he took for granted helped him make a museum and educate people who didn't have as many opportunities as he did as a child.

Elizabeth: What happened to you? Did your son hurt you? Or was your death the thing that pushed him over the edge?


Moments to Remember:
Pg.77
"The revelation of privacy: she can walk down the street and absolutely no one knows who she is."

Pg.223
"'You're from London,' Arthur had said. 'A guy like you can take cities for granted. For someone like me, coming from a small place... look, I think about my childhood, the life I lived on Delano Island, that place was so small. Everyone knew me, not because I was special or anything, just because everyone knew everyone, and the claustrophobia of that, I can't tell you. I just wanted some privacy. For as long as I could remember I just wanted to get out, and then I got to Toronto, and no one knew me. Toronto felt like freedom.'"

Final Line: "He likes the thought of ships moving over water, towards another world just out of sight."

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Title: The Golden Compass
Author: Philip Pullman
Series/Standalone: His Dark Materials (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction
Pages: 399
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 1996
Format: Audiobook

"Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her.
In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the alethiometer. All around her children are disappearing- victims of so-called "Gobblers"- and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter are involved."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This book was the monthly pick for my local book club and I was more than a little excited to get to it. I'd heard about this book in the past as it was extremely popular around the time the movie came out, but I'd never really read about it or known what the storyline was about. Overall, I enjoyed the story, especially listening to the audiobook as it was a full cast audiobook. I also really enjoyed the questioning about morals and religion that is hinted at in this first story. That being said I do wonder if I would enjoy the rest of the series based on my enjoyment of this first book. I'm going to give the series a break, before deciding whether to continue with the second audiobook.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Yes, I know I'm behind on extremely popular reads... what else is new?
So this was the pick for my local book club this month, one that I definitely voted for after hearing a lot of praise for the series overall. I'm not going to lie to anyone, I was a little disappointed. I found that this series was interesting, but I was curious about some things and bored with many others throughout it. I also tried to read the physical copy first but the sentences just seemed never ending and extremely intimidating.
That being said I did really enjoy the audiobook. It was full cast and narrated by the author, so I felt that I understood how he meant for his work to be interpreted. 

Characters:
Lyra: Like puberty isn't hard enough, to see playmates getting kidnapped left, right and centre. Also to see the world around you start to drastically change. I do wonder how she will change within the next novel. 

Pan: I wonder how he will be interpreted in this other world and if it will be normal for him to stay so close to Lyra. I also wonder what his permanent form will be.

Lord Azriel: I was extremely surprised to find out that perhaps he was the real problem in these experiments. I was also surprised at the lengths he was willing to go prove his points. I also wonder what he truly believes about Dust.

Marisa Coulter: Here I thought that she was the real villain, and boom she might be the more open villain. The one whose the head honcho.. ya know?

Iorek Byrnison: Loved his voice in the audiobook and his love for Lyra. I wonder how he will react once he realizes that she is gone. I do wonder how he'll rule the bears and react with Lyra kind of disappearing. 

Iofur Raknison: An interesting idea to see a bear wishing to be human. As well as someone trying to be something they are not. I won't say that he'll be missed. The description of his palace though was astounding and really helped me to understand his character.

Serafina Pekkala: Another interesting perspective to read about. Hearing about such a different perspective makes me wonder how the separation of others would affect them. Although they can already be far apart, they are still connected.


Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Gemina
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Series/Standalone: The Illuminae Files (Book #2)
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 659
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016

"Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna's social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.
The saga that began with Illuminae continues on board the space station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of BeiTech's assault. Hanna is the station captain's pampered daughter, Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza Invasion.
When an elite Beitech team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum may be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren't just fighting for their own survival. The fate of everyone of the Hypatia- and possibly the known universe is in their hands.
But relax. They've totally got this. They hope."

My Rating: 5/5

So I finally read this book. I'm so excited that I finished this book today. So excited that apparently, my body felt the need to be instantly awake at 6am on a Saturday. UGH! My poor sad tired soul is still filled with the emotions from this dang book. This book was amazing. I'd heard before this book is considered a companion to the first novel, but as you can probably tell by the description (only read it if you've read the first the book) there are some appearances from other characters. I thought that the continuation with the media format was perfect and I could not have asked for more. If you're looking for an action packed science fiction series, I would highly suggest the Illuminae Files series. I hope this review made sense without spoiling anything..... let me know you're thoughts below.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Spoiler: Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

So this is the second book in the Illuminae Files series and I can finally understand what everyone has been talking about. I'd heard alot of things about this second book but mostly it was a companion novel type series. That I shouldn't expect the same characters and then wham! The authors hit me with multiple huge surprises. To start, I love the new characters they are incredible to read about. I thought that the continuation of the mixed media writing helps to tell this story even more. I also thought that it was interesting to see another type of ship in this world and a different life style. It made logical sense to follow up the first book with this one at Heimdall. 

Characters:
Hanna: I thought that it was such a different character to read from, other than Kady or Ezra. While in the first book they were badass in different ways. Hanna is physically bad ass. She was able to sort through the chaos that was happening to her and fight for those around her. I also thought that her media was helpful because of her journal entries. I can't wait to see where her story continues especially after the deaths she witnessed.

Nik: Nothing says unique quite like a space drug dealer. He was unique and in the end soft hearted. To see what he did for his brother and the crap he dealt with growing up. I do wonder how he turned out the way he did with his childhood. I thought his flirtation was cute and fun to get the story started.

Ella: I'm excited to see what happens with her and Kady on a team together. The two tech geniuses working together. I'm interested in knowing more about The House of Knives and how it started. She takes no shit and I can appreciate that.

Jackson: This little piece of work threw me for a loop. I didn't expect him to be the rapier. I thought that he would die and naturally Hanna would move onto Nik who she liked more anyways. Clearly. That way it wouldn't be cheating. But instead, he has to be a jerk who was playing with a girls feeling. I do hope that his death was slow and painful after all the things he put the station through.

Chief Grant: Did he get to see his daughter again? I sure hope so.

Falk: A villain who always smiles, even while killing is someone to be frightened off. I thought the way this character spoke was completely unique and kind of gave me a creep.

Kady: Yay. This girl is back!!! Awe hell yeah.

Aiden: I missed it/him. And his crazy ways. I'm excited to see what happens with him as well now that he has more power at his disposal. I thought that he might even out, but he's perfect. 

Leanne: The best kind of villain is the one who is at the top. Their pure evil without showing it. So what else did she do with her company and all this power? Who else will she punish? 


Thanks for reading,
Sidny

Book Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Series/Novel: The Illuminae Files_01
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fiction
Pages: 599
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2015
First Line: "So here's the file that almost killed me, Director."

"This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do today. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra- who are barely even talking to each other- are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutuating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to the light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more- Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth and the courage of everyday heroes."

My Rating: 5/5

I've never read a book quiet like this before. I found that it was so interesting in format as well as in the type of story it is. I find that I haven't read a true Science Fiction YA book for a while that didn't involve a dystopian earth. And don't get me wrong I love dystopian which is one of my favorites but this book was crazy. The use of files and documents made it an interesting read and a quick one at that, although it is large in size. If someone was going to read this book I would strongly suggest that you get a physical copy as it's pages are beautiful and help to tell the story so well. I found that the first 100 pages or so seemed to drag and I wasn't interested but after I read for a longer amount of time I fell in love. I finished it this afternoon in 2 hours and just couldn't get it read fast enough. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, and am sorrily disappointed that it doesn't come out until October. Don't worry, ladies and gentleman I am putting it on preorder at this very moment. I'm super excited to see where this story leads and would recommend this to anyone who loves science fiction as well as plagues. Something for everyone.

Thanks for reading,
Sidny 

Spoiler: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

This was an incredible story and I was really impressed by how the documents were laid out and how the story was told. It was extremely creative, as well as beautiful. I also think that the story was very unique. I haven't seen anything about space and a universe set in space. I mean I've watched Star Wars, but this is so different and incredible. I hope that the next book is just as good. It was fantastic. 
I also think that the characters were amazing. In the first one hundred pages I thought that I wouldn't like the book because I found the characters annoying, but the more I read the more I loved. I also found that the quick changes in the fleet was what kept me in this book and will continue to interest me. I also wonder how the next book will be written. 

Characters:
Ezra: He's a great character, fun and has amazing banter. I was so surprised when Aidan tells her he's dead, but then the relief that he was alive hit and I may have cried. I look forward to see what happens next. I was really intrigued by his family and their past and hope to learn more about it.

Kady: She's incredible. She's a badass and full of humour although her life has not lead her where she wanted it to go (none of them did) she stays strong. She sacrifices and although she is scared she is incredible. I can't believe how incredible she is and hope to find out so much more about her.

Byron: I also liked him but then he went all crazy eyes and I thought that what he did to save Kady was extremely brave. Looking death in the face, even in madness is something that many wouldn't have the strength to do.

Aidan: Was it crazy? I'm not sure. But I think that he was trying to do what he thought was best, but didn't realise the damage that he took when they picked up the refugees. I also look forward to seeing him in the next book. 


Moments to Read:
Final Line: "Illuminae: Now run"

Thanks for reading,
Sidny