Book Review: Ghosting by Edith Pattou

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Date Read: July 11, 2014

Source: Review copy from Netgalley

Publication Date: August 19, 2014

Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing

Genres: Young adult, poetry (novel in verse)

Summary (taken from Goodreads): On a hot summer night in a Midwestern town, a high school teenage prank goes horrifically awry. Alcohol, guns, and a dare. Within minutes, as events collide, innocents becomes victims—with tragic outcomes altering lives forever, a grisly and unfortunate scenario all too familiar from current real-life headlines. But victims can also become survivors, and as we come to know each character through his/her own distinctive voice and their interactions with one another, we see how, despite pain and guilt, they can reach out to one another, find a new equilibrium, and survive.

Told through multiple points of view in naturalistic free verse and stream of consciousness, this is an unforgettable, haunting tale.

I began Ghosting with high hopes and was met with disappointment within the first few pages. My thoughts about the book at first were that it was an average novel in verse, without anything special to hook me to the story. I believe it was about 50 pages in when I decided that, actually, it might have been a decent introduction. By the end, I made a few connections back to the start that made the slow beginning feel worth it.

This book deals with a very important issue, however it's a bit tricky for me to dive into it without giving spoilers. So this is all I'll say: there is a shooting in the middle of the book, and it is dealt with perfectly.

It is not very often that a book changes my view on anything. During Ghosting, I actually paused a few times to think. A couple of lines made me stop, but this one from Maxie especially: "Did we get what we deserved?"

She asks this after overhearing people say it at a drugstore. And if their story had been on the news in real life, I may have thought - or even said - the same thing. Of course I would have felt bad for those involved, those hurt. But at least a small part of me would be thinking that they did wrong and were acting recklessly, that they should have known it could happen.

I did not think this during the novel. I didn't once blame the characters for what happened to them. And next time I hear a similar, real-life story, I know I will think differently about it.

This really comes down to how the situation was handled. Even less likeable characters were shown as human, with good sides and bad. They felt real and, while dealing with such an important topic, I feel this was very important to the book.

Overall, the story wasn't perfect, but I feel it came very close. I know there are those who feel disconnected from novels written in verse, and I do feel that they will be much less affected by this than I was. But if you do like reading verse, this is an excellent, thought-provoking read.

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Friday Finds

Friday Finds is a weekly event started by Should be Reading where you share the books you’ve found throughout the week. These don’t have to be purchases, just books that you added to your TBR.

Here are the books I’ve added to my TBR this week:

Dream On by M. Kircher

When Em's father is killed, her mother loses herself in dreams. Like Em, she can stay in these dreams for as long as she chooses. In order to support them, Em begins to write the dreams her mother has into books. When Gabe, a huge fan of the author he thinks is Em's mother, enters the picture, he's determined to find out the truth. Together, they will enter the dream world of Em's mother and try to convince her to wake up.

This one sounds so cool - the only reason I haven't read it yet is because I'm waiting for my review copy from the author. When it comes, it will be first on my to-read list.

Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas

I don't know so much about this one, but I adore the cover. It comes out in December and I'm super excited about the release, so hopefully it turns out to be a great one!

Book Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver

My Rating: 3 stars

Series: None

Date Read: August 12, 2014

Source: Purchased ebook

Publication Date: March 4, 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genres: Young adult, contemporary

Summary (taken from Goodreads): Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

I liked the idea behind this book. The characters were alright as well, although not my favorites. I feel that they, themselves, were realistic enough. But the way this story played out really bothered me.

From the start, I had a difficult time believing Panic could exist - yet alone go on for years. It's a game the whole school knows about. Each student is forced to pay a dollar every day of the school year, which goes towards the winnings. I know very few high school kids with that kind of money - especially those like Heather and Dodge, our two main characters, who seem to be barely getting by.

They would all have to be working, which I feel is unrealistic. And if you are harming kids to get this money out of them, someone will find out. Parents will wonder why. Not every single person in this school can have an uninvolved parent.

Still, I could have gotten past all that. I did get past it a few times, and I really enjoyed the story as a whole. But so many inconsistencies came up. The characters seemed to forget things, which was so strange to me. It wasn't part of the plot, the forgetting - it's just that something would happen, they would fight or worry about it, and that was the end. No resolution was shown or even explained. This was the part that really ruined the book for me.

Also, to say it without spoilers, the end wasn't any different from the rest. Things were left alone, with no consequences, even though there had to have been some.

Overall, I think you'll like this one better if you don't mind that the story's not realistic. If you are willing to believe it all could happen, you'll get more out of this one than me. I just couldn't see any of this happening in reality.

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WWW Wednesday

What are you currently reading?

This is Falling by Ginger Scott

I recently read another of Ginger Scott's books and loved it, so when I saw this one up on Netgalley I knew it was the perfect time to check out more of her work. This one is first in a series of companion novels, I believe, and I'm liking it so far!

What did you recently finish reading?

 

Panic by Lauren Oliver

This one wasn't as great as I hoped. It was kind of weird and some of the plot seemed to disappear throughout the book, like the characters forgot what just happened or something. My review for this one will be up tomorrow!

What do you think you'll read next?

Still Point by Katie Kacvinsky

I'm not sure this will be my very next read, but it will be read soon. Although I've waited forever for this book - and was SO excited to receive a review copy - I've been putting it off. I'm a bit sad that this series will be ending.

Top Ten Tuesday

Here is a link to the Top Ten Tuesday information from The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s theme is Top Ten Books I'm Not Sure I Want To Read. Because I recently went through my Goodreads TBR and deleted books I wasn't sure about, I'm not sure I can actually find ten that fit - instead, I'm going to list the books that have been on there the longest, and so I'm not sure I'll ever get around to them.

1. Paper Towns by John Green

I've tried reading this so many times, but I never continue past the prologue. The thing is, I have no idea why. I like the prologue, and I'd probably like the book as well. But I always pick up another book before chapter one.

2. What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

I have wanted to read this for so long. When I found it for free on iBooks, I thought it was a perfect time to get into it. However, this was ages ago and now I'm not sure if I'll ever get around to it. My excitement for the book has left and the only thing keeping it on my TBR is the fact that I own it and thought at the time that I would read it that month - of course, this was back in June.

3. Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

I have a problem with Lauren Barnholdt books. I've read two, one being the companion novel to this one, and I really enjoyed them both. But whenever I try to pick up another one, especially this one (which I was SUPER excited about prior to its release), another book comes up. Or I'm just not in the mood. It's awful because these are such quick reads, but for some reason I can't pick them up.

4. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I've heard so many good things about this one, but it's difficult for me to get into. The series is so many books, and they haven't all been released yet either. It's so much more commitment than just one book, and for that reason I've put it off. I recently won a giveaway for a few of these books, however I still couldn't seem to begin this one.

5. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

I wouldn't be interested in this one, really, except I read another book by the same author and loved it. Immediately, I added this one to my TBR. And then I forgot about it. I also put it off because, much as I enjoyed her other book, it was also quite sad and I'm not sure whether or not to expect the same from this one.

6. Hidden by Catherine McKenzie

This is another one that I've tried reading again and again. Nothing is wrong with it, I'm just always in the mood for something different.

7. Rippler by Cidney Swanson

It took me forever to even buy this one. When I found the series cheap on Amazon, I bought it right away - only to have it sit in my Kindle app. It's especially difficult for me to get into series right now, as I'm in the middle of so many, but it feels like this one's been waiting around so long.

8. On The Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

This one has been on and off my reading list since around the time I started my Goodreads account. I've now decided that it stays permanently on until I (finally!) some day read it. The only good thing about this book is that I haven't purchased it yet.

9. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

This one has been on and off my TBR as well. Every time I read another good review, it gets put back on. I've come close to buying it so many times as well, but I always find a different book that matches my mood/regular genre more.

10. A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

I like the concept behind this book. It's also super short, but I've never read more than a few pages. The beginning never hooks me and I always end up putting it back down, even though I'm sure once I got into the book I would like it.

Book Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

My Rating: 5 stars

Date Read: August 8, 2014

Source: Purchased ebook

Publication Date: June 14, 2012

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Genres: Young adult, contemporary, romance

Summary (taken from Goodreads): "One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

I heard a lot of good things about this book, yet I waited a long time before reading. I'm thinking the main reason for this is that I didn't believe it would be as great as everyone else seemed to think. I was ready to be disappointed.

That didn't happen. The book hooked me from the very first sentence. I was so disappointed not to have more reading time than I did, because I just wanted to sit down and read the whole thing at once.

The characters were a huge part of what made this story great. They weren't typical young adult characters. While some of them - a snobby, materialistic rich mother; a jealous best friend; a rebellious teenage sister - were pretty common tropes, they also had their own unique traits that made them real.

An easy writing style and a (somewhat) lighthearted story made the book a wonderful summer read. I was not let down at all by this one. It was fantastic.

This Book on Goodreads

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Friday Finds

Friday Finds is a weekly event started by Should be Reading where you share the books you’ve found throughout the week. These don’t have to be purchases, just books that you added to your TBR.

Here are the books I’ve added to my TBR this week:

Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling

I feel like I'll either love this one or hate it. I read a great review and am looking forward to it, however the review made it sound similar to Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl, and I didn't finish that book. I actually wrote a "DNF (did not finish) Review" of that one here.

I'm still hoping for the best on this one, though, so we'll see. I'm excited to get around to it.

Venom by Fiona Paul

This isn't my usual genre, but I've been meaning to try some historical fiction lately. Since I've heard good things, I added this one to my TBR. I can't get to it soon, but hopefully sometime.

Boys Don't Knit by T.S. Easton

I saw this one awhile back and was unsure. However, when I read this review, I decided to give it a chance. It sounds great and I'm really looking forward to it.