Is January YA Suicide Month?

Okay, maybe I am being a little more critical than called for. However, the three YA books in this review published in January can really get you down, make you mad, and frankly just contemplate life.


The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun David Hutchinson
Pub: 1/20/2015
Pgs: 336
Arc Received by Edelweiss

This story is about a boy named Andrew.  He is lost, alone, angry, and desperate.  Working under the table at the hospital cafeteria, volunteering in the E.R., and visiting various sectors of the hospital are the things Andrew looks forward to; facing reality is the last thing on his mind.  He's been able to stay off the radar and blend into the sterile atmosphere in the hospital; however, on July 4th after a terrible party accident sends a teenage boy to the E.R. badly burned Andrew's anonymity amongst the hospital may be put at risk.  There is something about this boy-Rusty- that pulls and Andrew, and also pulls the past back into focus for him. After losing his family Andrew hasn't been the same, but what if something tragic happens to you and it's your fault?  Can one ever forgive themselves and accept who they really are?  And when reality strikes, how far will you go to keep from living it?

I really enjoyed the story, and found myself to be equally engrossed and angry.  This story will make you upset, angry, sad, scared, and ultimately hopeful.

4 out of 5 stars, thanks Edelweiss.






I Was Here by Gayle Forman
Pub: 1/27/2015
Pgs: 288
Arc Received by Edelweiss

Best friends sometimes doesn't mean forever.  We have all experienced growing up, moving on to college, losing that extreme connection to someone we considered are better and other half.  Cody and Meg's friendship is no exception to the rules.  As little girls they were inseparable; Meg was the light of Cody's life.  However, life took both girls to completely different places, and as they grew apart both lived out a different life.  But how was Cody supposed to know that her friend was keeping a deadly secret?  After Meg is discovered dead by suicide, Cody has to come to terms to one of the greatest losses she has experienced.  And as she comes to these terms, she slowly begins to learn things about Meg's life that she had never known existed.  Trying to reconcile her memory of her best friend from this secretive and desperate girl who eventually took her life isn't easy, but Cody becomes desperate herself to figure out the last chapter of her friend's life.  Encountering roommates, past flings, and eventually a secret that will shock her Cody discovers that sometimes the people we love are not exactly who we thought they were. 

This story was such an emotional roller coaster.  At first I thought it would be a story of discovery, but it delved so much deeper into the world of depression and suicide.  It's great when stories give a voice to, perhaps, taboo subject.  But the point still remains, depression can and does effect many including their family and friends.  Coming to terms with a loved one's depression/suicidal tendencies, or coming to terms with your own is a very scary thing because no one wants to talk about it.  Instead we shame each other by making it taboo, and in the end all that was possibly needed was an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on.

4 out of 5 stars, thanks Edelweiss.





Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff
Pub: 1/27/2015
Pgs: 288
Arc Received by Edelweiss


After a terrible ending to a party Hayden decides to take his own life.  His best friend Sam, ready to apologize, is the one to find Hayden lying dead in his bedroom the next morning from a drug overdose.  The only clue he left behind was a playlist, specifically for Sam.  Now Sam immerses himself in the playlist trying to figure out why his only friend was so desperate enough to kill himself.  Soon Sam starts figuring out that Hayden had some secrets that he didn't even share with him. Full of bullies, amazing songs, revenge, and puzzles this book is sure to keep readers entertain.  My only problem with this book is the revenge aspect, and who is dishing it out.  Especially since things end so flatly and almost as if done quickly to run away from the story itself. 

3 out of 5 stars.  Thanks Edelweiss.

The Wicked Awakening of Anne Merchant by Joanna Wiebe

The Wicked Awakening of Anne Merchant by Joanna Wiebe
Pub: 1/20/2015
Pgs: 320
ARC provided by NetGalley, Edelweiss and The Author's Marketing Department

“Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.”-Nietzsche

The second book of Wiebe's The V Trilogy was an impressive sophomoric release.  Normally the biggest challenges for authors and readers is getting through the second book.  Normally nothing happens in these books, but information overload.  That was not the case in this book.  Anne has been brought back to Cania Christy by Teddy.  Her rebellious acts in the end of the first book with Ben, has literally brought down Hell.  Mephistopheles is no longer the head master, and the new one, Dia, is something to look at.  Now Anne has to deal with all the backlash, Ben's punishment, her father's punishment, and eventually the truth of her origins. 

I did not see that coming at all.  The fact that Anne seems unimportant in the first book is notable.  Why is everyone in a tizzy about  her?  In the second book, all is revealed, including why Dia really came to Cania Christy, and Anne's connection to Hilltop (Mephistopheles).  I personally liked the twist; however, I did not like what ended up happening with Dia.  Hopefully Anne doesn't become one of these YA heroines that start acting before really thinking.  The ending seemed to be an ending; however, since this is a trilogy I have no clue (except for one, connected to Ben) as to what the third book will have in store for readers.  I like that a lot about this author, she subtly twists the readers out of their prescribed notions and hits them with surprises.  Very glad that I read this book, and was given the opportunity to read it early.  Anne might be okay, but she is definitely not done saving her loved ones and her soul.

4.5 stars!

Melt by Selene Castrovilla

Melt by Selene Castrovilla
Pub: 11/6/2014
Pgs: 280
ARC provided by NetGalley


This was good.  I have to admit it, this story got to me; however, based on my 3 stars it could have been better.  Dorothy and Joey are about to experience the phenomenon labeled: INSTALOVE.  Neither one will no what hit them, but they will fall hard.  Dorothy is the new girl from NYC, she lives in a huge home, and has pretty decent parents.  Joey is the bad boy punk at school, who gets into too many fights, lives in a modest home, and his father, the police officer, routinely beats Joey's mother.  Dorothy, or Doll as Joey likes to call her, and Joey could not be any more different, but in each other they find understanding, purity, rebellion, and love. 

There was a lot going on in this novel.  Given two perspectives, that of Joey and Dorothy, each perspective is delivered differently.  Dorothy is in verse, while Joey is in prose.  I kind of liked that distinction because it seemed like Joey would have never been able to coherently finish a thought based on his up bringing.  I don't mean that beating your children will make you stupid, I mean sometimes being in an abusive home you tend to be antsy, nervous, and perhaps fickle in thought.  Dorothy was the voice of reason for much of the novel and she was able to show that in the complete thoughts she laid out to the readers.

What didn't work for me, but wasn't a huge issue, was the tie in to The Wizard of Oz.  This is not a remake, and the only other connection is that her name is Dorothy.  I guess you could really over analyze this book and come up with how Joey is the embodiment of someone without a heart, brain, or courage until Dorothy shows him that he has plenty of love, smarts, and courage to stand up to his father.  Overall I liked this extremely quick read, with just enough substance to make you go, "hmm" at the end.

3.5 stars out of 5.  Thanks NetGalley

Creed by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie

Creed by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie
Pub: 11/8/2014
Pgs: 264
ARC received by NetGalley


What. Did. I. Just. Read.


That was my initial reaction to this book.  Mike, Luke, and Dee are on a road trip to the night of their life; however, because they are teenagers someone forgets the gas.  Now stuck in upstate NY in a snow storm, with no cell phone reception, the three need to figure out survival... until, they stumble on what seems like an abandoned town.  Instead of gas, a warm place to stay, or anything to help with their survival, they got a backwards town, secluded from society with their own rules, laws, and leader.  Sometimes the pasture isn't greener, it's on fire.


Holy Moley literally.  Leaver and Currie took a bad case scenario and made it so much worse, and injected some cult realities into the mix, for s*&^ and giggles.  A suspenseful read with an even more suspenseful ending, that made me just like the author a little more.  I personally could not stand Dee and so I gave the book a 3.5 out of 5.
Thanks NetGalley. 

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander
Pub:10/7/2014
Pg: 350
ARC received by NetGalley




"To Other Charlie, who may need reminding he's the reason the mockingbird sings."

How in the world are people supposed to get over a book, when it is written to pierce you at your core.  I feel like I have been opened at the seams and love, chaos, hurt, death, fun, and life have been poured into me.  These were similar feelings to the ones after I read TFiOS. 

Charlie has always been a smart kid.  He goes to a prestigious and rigorous school, he plans on going to MIT, and he has no luck with the ladies. So he concentrates on math and science, until one day he encounters a beautiful girl in a coffee shop with a perplexing infinity tattoo. Charlotte Finch is the girl in question.  She's new and goes to school with Charlie's sister, Becca (who might have some problems, which make it difficult to be friends with people.)  Becca is Charlie's little sister, someone who has a hard time with the real world but can get lost in books all day.  Charlotte end up becoming friends with Becca.  Ms. Josephine Finch is Charlotte's older sister, who is taking care of her and also is the new teacher at the prestigious school Charlie goes to, the school that is famous for keeping their English teachers as long as Hogwarts kept Defense against the Dark Arts teachers (loved that analogy).  Charlotte ends up asking Charlie to distract her sister and come up with great pranks; however, Charlie doesn't realize that she is deflecting from something bigger, something he wouldn't have been able to guess.. even if he's a genius.

This is a story about a girl and boy and cancer.  That it.. I said the magic word.. cancer.  You know it's not going to end well, but every time it does.  Yes, death is a possibility but I never feel like it was wrongly done, instead I look at the "living" these characters did in the story.  The "living" alone is enough to get people to read this. Charlie learns valuable lessons through literature (I know math and science nerds, who knew, right?), jumps out of his comfort zones, and learns to live a little.  I was so emotional reading this story because you just know something bad is going to happen and then all the good stuff happens and your just waiting for the knife to cut you down.  Wonderfully executed; Charlie and Charlotte's story will stay with me for awhile.  
4.5 stars out of 5.  Thanks NetGalley

Jackaby by William Ritter

Jackaby by William Ritter
Pub: 9/16/2014
Pg. 299
ARC Received by Edelweiss


"Ignorance is bliss, is that it?"

"That's insipid.  Happiness is bliss-but ignorance is anesthetic, and in the face of what's to come, that may be the best we can hope for our ill-fated acquaintances."


Described as "Doctor Who meets Sherlock"  I would have to say that was the sole reason why I picked up this book, and it was the sole reason that made this book better than most of its contemporaries.  R.F. Jackaby is a private investigator, who focuses on the unexplained, and has a knack of getting on people's wrong side.  Abigail Rook, has jumped to America after leaving school to go dinosaur digging and find adventure, where it is lacking for girls in 1892.  In need of a job Abigail answers his advertisement for an assistant, and instead of a job Abigail falls into the world of the unexplained, the world of a mad man genius (without a box), and figures out her true talents. 

Just as Abigail becomes the new assistant (or companion) a new case is brewing for the investigator of the unexplained, a serial killer is on the loose.  While the police investigate it like a regular homicide, Jackaby is convinced it's supernatural and begins his own investigation.  With the help of Abigail, who has a knack for noticing the ordinary things, and Charlie, the only one in a police's uniform that doesn't treat Jackaby like a quack, Jackaby delves into this new mystery.  Unexplained deaths that are not as bloody as it should be, an ancient being, and an unforeseen foe are the results of this first installment in the Jackaby series.  Did I mention it was going to be a series, because it is and I am over the moon about it!!!  I love, love, love Dr. Who and Abigail reminded me of some of the best companions: Donna, Amy, and Clara.  Jackaby tends to push Abigail's buttons because he is more concerned about solving the riddle, than effect others; Abigail also tends to push back on Jackaby and make him reflect on his next couple of moves.  They are sweet together, and I love the platonic aspect of their relationship, since it doesn't complicate the actual story at hand.

4 out of 5 stars, thanks Edelweiss!

September 9th 2014 YA Publications

Unmarked by Kami Garcia
Pub: 9/9/2014
Pg. 400
ARC Received by Edelweiss


"Laughter echoed off the walls chills rippled through me.  I realized what everyone else had known all along.  The boy I knew was gone.  The one caged before me was a monster.  And I was the one who had to kill him."

Kennedy is trying to deal with the fall out from the end of the first novel.  She isn't one of the Marked, she might have orchestrated the release of a deadly demon, and now she is stuck living with her only living relative, who has sent her to boarding school.  She also has to deal with leaving Jared behind.  But what Kennedy doesn't know is that the Marked group needs her help, and Kennedy is going to have to deal with past demons to find the help they need.  Filled with family secrets, questions, and a demon who is out to get them, Kennedy needs to figure out her role in the Marked's quest, and why the demon wants her.

Such an exciting novel/fantasy world.  Garcia gives readers what they want with sassy characters, good friendships, amazing guys, and complicated rituals.  This reader will be greatly anticipating the next "Mark".


4.5 stars, thanks Edelweiss!








Blood of My Blood by Barry Lyga
Pub: 9/9/2014
Pg. 464
ARC Received by NetGalley

"Yes.  It was time for Jasper to put away childish things.  Jasper would take the next step toward becoming a Crow.  Or suffer the consequences."

Jasper is the son of known serial killer Billy Dent.  In the first two books readers get to see Jasper's desperation of figuring out what is real and what is not based on his reoccurring memories.  You see Billy Dent was the kind of dad that always brought his child to work, and his work was in killing. 

Jasper has been kidnapped by his father, Connie (Jazz's girlfriend) is also being held by his father in a different location, and Howie is in the hospital.  Jazz needs to figure out how to get away from his father, save Connie, and prove his innocence in the involvement of the murder strings conducted by the "Crows."  On top of all that Jasper will have to deal with the truth about his family, and ultimately the truth about himself. 

I really liked this series.  Serial killers is a fascinating subject, but sometimes when it is placed in YA a lot of the interesting things are watered down to give way for more conventional YA themes (love, friendship, coming of age); however, Lyga does it masterfully enough that he never shied away from the physical, mental, and emotional gore that comes from serial killing.  Nice ending to a very troubling story.

4 out of 5 stars, thanks NetGalley!








The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Pub: 9/9/2014
Pg. 295
ARC Received by NetGalley


"KILL THE CHILD"

Callum Hunt has always been a bit of nuisance in his hometown, especially since no one could find comebacks for his witty remarks, and of course he hasn't always been that popular seeing as his leg (it is damaged) tends to bring the worse out of others. He also has an eccentric father, who doesn't condone magic.  In fact he is so disapproving of magic, that he teaches Call how to fail the test that will win him a spot in the most prestigious magical training school, The Magisterium.  You see Call's mother died because of magic and war, and his father will do anything to protect Call.  The problem turn out to be that, even though Call did his best to fail, another Mage thought better of leaving an untrained mage out in the world.  To Call's surprise and his father's outraged disappointment, Call gets into The Magisterium.  Now he has to be surrounded by the very people his father made him leery of, learn magic, and figure out the past along with a few new friends. 

I really liked this collaboration between Black and Clare.  Both authors have a certain flare when it comes to magic, and even though I have given Clare more 5 star ratings then anyone else, Black just does magic so interestingly.  Clare does a wonderful job of world building, and in this book it is clear to see how both authors' passions and capabilities compliment each other.  I cannot wait to see where Call and his friends end up in the next installment. 

 4 out of 5 stars, thanks NetGalley!








Kiss of Broken Glass by Madeleine Kuderick
Pub: 9/9/2014
Pg. 224
ARC Received by Edelweiss


"And we share our best lies,
the ones that will fool any mother-
cat scratches,
bike wipeouts,
shaving nicks.

It's kind of like a club, I say.
Sisters of the Broken Glass."



This is the story of a serious condition that has become a known epidemic amongst teenagers, cutting.  Kenna has been placed on a 72 hour psych hold after cutting herself in the girls bathroom.  The next few days are about her journey into cutting, the cutting cult at school, and why she's even there to begin with.  Filled with eye opening scenarios of young girls who cut to impress a queen bee, and Kenna is among those who were just cutting to impress, but Kenna doesn't really understand if she cuts for herself too.

I thought this was a quick and short way of opening readers up to the problem, demonstrating the reasons behind one particular cutter, and delving into a culture of pain.  It was interesting to her Kenna, and how she bullied and was bullied (but in a not so huge and clearly defined scale), and also it was interesting that the author chose to do a 72 hour snap shot of Kenna's situation.  The author also lets readers know that this is from her daughter's personal experience, but also from the countless Tumblr pages she looked into and other blogs, where teens honestly depicted their stories with pictures and agonizing stories.  The ending is left open, Kenna knows she has choices and that's her problem, she just hopes that the choices that keep her from cutting are enough, but really she "could go either way."

3.5 stars out of 5, thanks Edelweiss!





Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White
Pub: 9/9/2014
Pg. 288
ARC Received by Edelweiss


Jassamin comes from the island of Melei, but  finds her self in Albion for schooling.  On a fateful day she meets Finn, a young and charismatic lord who comes from wealth, privilege, power, and magic!  But along with all that Finn has a secret, and Lord Downpike will do everything in his power bring Finn down... even if that's through Jassamin.  Jassamin becomes the pawn in a game she's never known existed, and her fate is irrevocably intertwined with Finn's.  Will she be in over head, or will she be exactly what Finn needs to destroy Lord Downpike, or will she be the undoing of Finn?

I really liked the tie in of magic in this story.  It's not very obvious and also not really terrible.  The shadow was a great little addition to the whole claiming bit that seems prevalent with magical myths.  Finn is such a funny character, and even though at times Jassamin can be a little too annoying she wasn't a terrible character.  It was also nice to read a stand alone; sometimes you only want to be in a world for 1 book, not 6.

4 out 5 stars, thanks Edelweiss!






Rites of Passage by Joy N. Hensley
Pub: 9/9/2014
Pg. 416
ARC Received by Edelweiss


"After all, when you're a girl and your Dad's pretty much the most badass lieutenant colonel there ever was, there's no way you're ever going to be able to make him proud.
Unless you do something stupid.
Like agree to be one of the first girls to enroll at a previously all-boys military academy."


Sam McKenna comes from a family of military skills.  So it's no surprise that she too would like to show her skills, and after her brother's suicide she has one final dare to complete from him: join the all-boys military academy, Denmark Military Academy that is. Her second oldest brother goes there, her father went there, and her grandfather went there, no pressure for one of the first female recruits.  Of course being a girl and infiltrating (because that is how the men are looking at it) an all male school can be hard.  There is the sexual factor, the physical factor, and the emotional/mental factor.  But Sam soon realizes that there is also a secret society, and they are hell bent on getting rid of the female recruits, especially Sam.   A world full of secrets, tradition, and strict rules Sam must dig deep if she plans on making it out of her first year alive.

I liked that hazing was acknowledged and not slightly brushed upon.  The cruelty of children is not necessarily the most comfortable topic, but it's a real topic and children can be the cruelest, especially when they are being led by an adult.  My problem was, and usually is in YA novels, WTF parents!  You seriously don't care that your child is doing something good, like dealing with equality, you know for a fact how the military academy mentality is and you still don't check up on her?  And her brother (not the dead one, I love Amos he sounded like a sweetheart), screw that guy.  I don't even care about the end... he let it get to that point without letting his father know.  And the father... you had to have what happened from the moment your son killed himself to the moment that you came back to realize your family is important? W. T. F. --That is all.

4 out of 5 stars, thank you Edelweiss!