Author: J. Andersen

Title: Lemons

Pages: 20

Genre: YA General

Publisher: Cobblestone Road Press

Date Published: February 11, 2014

Format: ebook

Source: KU

Synopsis: ​
They say when life throws you lemons to make lemonade, but when Ally finds herself in the biggest pickle of her life—stranded on an island in the middle of a lake, fruit and veggies are the least of her worries. Now she’ll have to face the harsh realities of her selfish choices, which means dealing with what happened between her parents so many years ago.

I got this book from Kindle Unlimited after discovering the author last night during a twitter party.  It was a short, so I figured I'd give it a shot and see how I liked her writing before diving into one of her novels.

As a child of divorced parents, I understood many of her struggles.  The need to act out in order to get the attention that is so strongly craved.  And that's what this is about.  The repercussions that happen after things get beyond ones control.

Although, this story was fairly tame in comparison to actual experiences I've seen.  It isn't one to be taken lightly.  I think it was done well, and I would recommend.  Especially for parents of divorced children, if only to show them that divorce doesn't just affect them.

Author: E. K. Johnston

Title: Exit, Pursued By A Bear

Pages: 248

Genre: Young Adult, General Fiction

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Date Published: March 15, 2016

Format: Audio

Source: Overdrive

Synopsis: ​
​“I love you,” Polly says suddenly when I’m almost to the door.

“I know,” I say.

Hermione Winters has been a flyer. She’s been captain of her cheerleading team. The envied girlfriend and the undisputed queen of her school. Now it’s her last year and those days and those labels are fading fast. In a few months she’ll be a different person. She thinks she’s ready for whatever comes next.

But then someone puts something in her drink at a party, and in an instant she finds herself wearing new labels, ones she never imagined:

Victim. Survivor. That raped girl.

Even though this was never the future she imagined, one essential thing remains unchanged: Hermione can still call herself Polly Olivier’s best friend, and that may be the truest label of all.

Heartbreaking and empowering, Exit, Pursued by a Bear is the story of transcendent friendship in the face of trauma.

“I love you,” I say, because I really, really do.

“I know,” says Polly.

I saw this at the library as a new release in audio, so I decided to put a hold on it because it looked like something I should read.

Hermione, the main character, was overcoming a rape - but not wanting it to define her.  I have been sexually assaulted as well, and for the longest time I thought it was my fault and I deserved it.  It is because I did not have a support system and was ignorant about how all of this worked.  I have since learned otherwise.

One thing I have to say is that this is a heavy read.  While reading, I felt quite emotional.  There was sadness, frustration, and anger - I had to put it down a lot.  Still, I finished it in a day because it is fantastic.   

Out of everyone in this book, Polly is my favorite.  She's the type of best friend everyone needs.  There's so many things she says that is something anyone who has suffered sexual abuse should hear.  As someone who has also lived through this type of abuse, even seeing it written down like this made me feel the words were also for me.  And that was something I needed.

An important thing to note is that this was a rape story that did not focus on the abuse, which made it something I could connect with easier.  The reactions from her parents, best friend, boyfriend, teammates, and community after they realized what has happened is very important.  Even though it was not something I enjoyed, it is necessary to see the different reactions of everyone.  Normally it is so hard for me to read a book with sexual assault, but this one focused on the way her friends, family, and certain members of the community came together to stand up and defend Hermione over rumors and other awful things.  It felt empowering.

This is someone that should be offered to someone who has been through a sexual assault. It was very empowering. Hell, this is something everyone should read so they can understand even a fraction of what is going on.

Read this immediately.  Right now, in fact.  This is one book that will stick with me for a while.

Author: Laurence Yep & Joanne Ryder

Title: A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans

Pages: 152

Genre: Dragons, Fantasy & Magic, Humor

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Date Published: March 10th 2015

Format: ebook

Source: Overdrive

Synopsis: ​Crusty dragon Miss Drake has a new pet human, precocious Winnie. Oddly enough, Winnie seems to think Miss Drake is her pet—a ridiculous notion! 

Unknown to most of its inhabitants, the City by the Bay is home to many mysterious and fantastic creatures, hidden beneath the parks, among the clouds, and even in plain sight. And Winnie wants to draw every new creature she encounters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But Winnie’s sketchbook is not what it seems. Somehow, her sketchlings have been set loose on the city streets! It will take Winnie and Miss Drake’s combined efforts to put an end to the mayhem . . . before it’s too late.
​

This was one of the March books I had to read for book club.  I was excited about this one, because I read a few of Laurence Yep's dragon books when I was a kid.  I checked this one out from my library.

I loved how both the dragon, Miss Drake, and the young girl, Winnie, think of each other as pets.  It sets up both characters as equals.

There is much about this book that was captivating and enjoyable.  Also, there are some feels because of the deaths that affect both characters, which is why they come to be in each other's company.  This also helps bring the two of them together.  And there are shenanigans.

Winnie gets them in some trouble, because she does things with magic that she shouldn't.  This causes said shenanigans and also brings them closer together.

I am glad to have been given another chance to read more from Laurence Yep.  It was awesome and fun to read.

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Title: Landline

Pages: 310

Genre: Domestic Life, Family Life, Contemporary Women
​
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Date Published: July 8th 2014

Format: Audio

Source: Overdrive

Synopsis: ​Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble; it has been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.

Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn't expect him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?
​

Sofia spent over a year heckling me to read Fangirl, and so to make up for my insolence at taking so long I have decided to read all of Rainbow Rowell's books this year.

This one is a different genre entirely from Fangirl and Eleanor & Park, so I really didn't know what to expect. I mean, I liked those books but they weren't "WOW, THIS IS AMAZING!" to me.

​I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. Maybe it was because it featured a relationship I could connect with. A couple, married for a while, and everything that goes along with that... that is something I know very well.

Also, my husband is from Omaha... so we have that in common.

Anyway, while reading this I could feel the pain that Georgie was going through. I remember the times in my marriage where I wasn't sure my husband wanted to stick around, and my mom was going on about how he was going to leave me. So, that was hard to read for me. It was all too real.

Thus far, this is my favorite Rainbow Rowell book. It was unique in that there was some weird phone time travel going on, so that was awesome. But also something that was very easy to connect with. Highly recommend.

I read, and loved, the first book in this series so much that I had put a hold on this one at my library before I even finished that one.  As soon as I was notified that the book came in, I got it so I could start it immediately.

Just like the first one, this was hard to put down.  There was more drama surrounding the selection, because less girls are present so more focus was on each of them.  Also, there is more learned about each of the characters.  This includes the king.  Oh man, I do not like that person.  I can't go into detail, but I wish I could kick him in the butt - with a scalding steal toe boot.

A couple things that stood out for me was how much more I can relate to the main characters.  Maxon in this book, in that he hides things in order not to appear weak.  America, in that she's freaking awesome and stands up for what she believes in - even if she is dumb about it.  I have also gotten frustrated about things going on around me to the point of being stupid.

I've already bought book 3, but I am waiting for it to be delivered.  I got it from my kid's book fair because I was "supporting his school".  Also because it was $5 cheaper than Amazon, which was selling it cheaper than the bookstores in my area.  Anyway, I cannot wait to start it.  I will also be listening to the short stories, because I need to know all the things I can about this series.

Author: Ally Condie

Title: Matched

Pages: 369

Genre: Mate Seeking, Science Fiction & Dystopian, Fantasy

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Date Published: November 30th 2010

Format: Audio

Source: Overdrive

Synopsis: ​In the Society, officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one…until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.
​

I picked this up from my library because it looked interesting.

It starts a bit slow, but it gradually picks up and started to hold my interest.  Although there are still random parts that are duller than others, I got through them quickly enough.

Out of all of the characters, I felt the most connection with Ky.  I really wish there was more on his background.  He seemed to be the most... human.  Likely because he was raised outside of the system.

For a lot of the book, I found myself frustrated over the system.  It connects you to your match based on what is most beneficial to the community, kills old people after a certain age, and the list goes on.  Typical things you'll find in a Dystopian.  I was most curious to see what was going to happen with the situation between Ky and Xander.

Cassia, the main character, was the storyteller for this book, and I felt she was reacting to things in a way that made sense with the world she has grown up in.

Fans of YA Dystopian would likely enjoy this.  I am interested in continuing the series, although I have heard the following books aren't as good.

Author: Malala Yousafzai

Title: I Am Malala

Pages: 240

Genre: Middle East, Asia

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Date Published: August 19th 2014

Format: ebook / audiobook

Source: Amazon / Overdrive

Synopsis: ​"I am Malala. This is my story." 
Malala Yousafzai was only ten years old when the Taliban took control of her region. They said music was a crime. They said women weren't allowed to go to the market. They said girls couldn't go to school.
Raised in a once-peaceful area of Pakistan transformed by terrorism, Malala was taught to stand up for what she believes. So she fought for her right to be educated. And on October 9, 2012, she nearly lost her life for teh cause: She was shot point-blank while riding the bus on her way home from school.
No one expected her to survive.
Now she is an international symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest- ever Nobel Peace Prize nominee. In this Young Readers Edition of her bestselling memoir, which includes excessive photos and material, we hear firsthand the remarkable story of a girl who knew from a young age that she wanted to change the world-and did.
Malala's powerful story will open your eyes to another world and will make you believe in hope, truth, miracles, and the possibility that one person- one young person- can inspire change in her community and beyond.
​

I checked the audiobook out from the library, forgetting that I had bought the ebook when it was on sale... because I'm that sort of person.  As amused and annoyed as I was with myself when I realized this, I actually ended up getting a better experience with the book this way.  Malala speaks at the beginning and end of the book, and there's her UN speech as well.  So, the audio version is definitely worth listening to.

It's pretty emotional, hearing about how so many children in Pakistan are unable to be educated because their poor and/or female.  I think it was very important of her to point out that the biggest issue with the ignorance there is because of this lack of education.  These people are studying their holy text, but aren't understanding the words.  That's something to be said of all religions.  It's scary what happens when the uneducated come into power and twist a holy book to their desires.  And knowing she stood up for her education despite the threats, she is amazing.  Truly.

I introduced my 5 year old son to the story of Malala last year, we own a couple picture books about her.  I wanted him to know how important it is for all people to be given the opportunity to be educated.  Also, I want to raise him to understand that there is no type of person better than another - people of all races, religions, genders, etc. all deserve the same opportunities.

To me, the worst part of this was knowing there was a period of time when her father regretted letting her choose an education over her safety.  I cannot even imagine the grief her parents went through.

I've been reading a lot of non fiction lately, and I've noticed there is a lot of rambling in them.  This book didn't have that.  It is a fascinating story and I am so glad she lived through being shot.  I wish I could afford to go to her talk in Houston, I expect it is going to be great.

Author: Colleen Hoover

Title: Confess

Pages: 306

Genre: New Adult & College, Literary, United States

Publisher: Atria Books

Date Published: March 10th 2015

Format: audio

Source: Overdrive

Synopsis: ​Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…
​

On my quest to read all of Colleen Hoover's books, I put a hold on this one at my library and got the audiobook version.

So, this one starts out with feels.  Which puts up all sorts of alarms, because I know there's always a point on Colleen Hoover's books where there's a bunch of drama with all the feels.  This meant the stuff at the beginning was nothing in comparison.  And I was scared.

For the most part, I enjoyed both Elizabeth Louise and Sebastian York's narration.  Except when they had to do the ... I'm assuming it was Irish... accent.  That was painful.  That character might have been a cool guy or whatever, but whenever he was talking I wanted to just fast forward it and make it go away.

Anger at Lydia, sadness over what Auburn has to go through, Trey basically existing caused strong wanting to stab him.

Like Auburn, I have been made to feel I wasn't a good mom.  So I felt invested in the story, hoping she'd be able to prove her naysayers wrong.  Also, like her, I have been with someone who made me feel obligated to be with them.  So, I felt a lot of connections to the main character.

As for the love interest, Owen... I just wasn't feeling him.  Not that I disliked him, but I just felt nothing for him.  Even after everything he did.  Nada.  Now, Emory, Auburn's roommate. She was flipping awesome.  Holy fluff balls, some of the things she did!

Anyway, I liked this one but it is not one of my top Colleen Hoover recommendations for someone new to the author.

Author: Nicola Yoon

Title: Everything, Everything

Pages: 320

Genre: New Experiences, Contemporary, Social & Family Issues

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Reader

Date Published: September 1st 2015

Format: audio

Source: Overdrive

Synopsis: ​My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
​

I picked this up from the library to read it, because I saw Sofia was reading it and I wanted to be cool like her.

At first I really loved this book.  It's pretty awesome and the characters are great.  Pretty much everything I could have wanted in a YA book.

The longer I listened to it, the more issues I came across.  The first thing that popped out for me is how Maddy is a book review blogger, but all the books she's reviewing are classics and in hardback.  You'd think someone with SCIDS would have an ereader, at the very least, and a blogger would be reading ALL the books.  And, as a teenager with a lot of freedom to access the internet... she really didn't do it.

Moving on.  Romance begins.  Drama happens.  It's good times.  I liked it.  Kept my attention and I was really enjoying it.  This book was going to be a 4-Platypire read for me.  ...until the end.

I've been thinking about it for a couple weeks, so I'm not taking this rating lightly.  But I honestly feel like the end was stolen.  And without repercussions.  I understand the reason for it, and it makes sense.  I do not hate it.  But I just lost respect for this book because of it.

Other than that, I did really like this book and I am looking forward to reading something help from this author.

I'm trying to organized this a little bit more than usual.  Also, this will help me balance what I read.  Anything in black is a personal read.  Everything else will be colored.  Audiobooks will be in bold.

You can click any of the titles under "Reviewed" to read my review.