Review: Frozen by Robin Wasserman

     

Frozen (Skinned) by Robin Wasserman
______________________________

Series: Cold Awakening (#1)
Pages: 386
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: December 1st, 2011
IBSN: 9781442420380

The Download was supposed to change the world. It was supposed to mean the end of aging the end of death, the birth of a new humanity. But it wasn't supposed to happen to someone like Lia Kahn. 

And it wasn't supposed to ruin her life.

Lia knows she should be grateful she didn't die in the accident. The Download saved her--but it also changed her, forever. She can deal with being a freak. She can deal with the fear in her parents' eyes and the way her boyfriend flinches at her touch. But she can't deal with what she knows, deep down, every time she forces herself to look in the mirror: She's not the same person she used to be.

Maybe she's not even a person at all.

Lia Kahn died in a car accident. But Lia Kahn is still alive. She has to be one or the other, and after waking up, she's convinced of the latter. She's still the same Lia, albeit slightly less mortal and slightly more mechanical. But as her family and friends tiptoe around her at best, and shun her at worst, she has to consider that she isn't the same at all.

I began flicking through a little of Frozen just after it arrived, without the intention of actually starting for a while yet, but Lia's voice captured my interest immediately and her situation -- paralysed consciousness, separate from all of her senses -- tugged on my heartstrings.

Frozen was an intensely engaging science fiction novel. I can best describe it as M. T. Anderson's Feed meets The Adoration Of Jenna Fox. Frozen sets the scene for this series, introducing Lia and detailing her slow journey to accepting her new self. But Frozen, for this very character-driven introduction, is anything but dull.

Lia was the perfect one, before. Gorgeous, popular, athletic, and with a privileged family who (mostly) love her. She loses all of that when she's in a car crash and saved by the Download. She wonders after the procedure if she'd rather be dead or if she already is. Her old personality isn't the most likable, but it's so easy to sympathise with her, especially as everything that made her Perfect Lia slips away from her.

Robin Wasserman's writing style was smooth and elegant, evoking a genuine character voice. Lia's emotions and conflicts were portrayed realistically, and all of her actions were in character. I didn't have to agree with everything she did to appreciate her strong and distinct personality and invest in her story.

The ending felt incredibly clever in the way it leaves the characters in a position to make a huge turn-around. It drove home the realness, as well, with people acting terribly but realistically. Much of Frozen is about exploring humanity, and it's present in each character's prejudice and anger. In their emotions, positive or negative. These aren't charming, cheery characters you want to be friends with or just want to be -- they're who you already are. They're exactly like people really are.

Frozen was a brilliant beginning to the trilogy, focusing on creating the world and setting up Lia's situation and maturing her emotionally and, to a lesser extent, physically for promised tests of her character throughout Shattered and Torn. More touching than exhilarating, Frozen is a must-read for fans of Uglies and Feed and still strongly recommended for everyone else.

I give Frozen a 5 out of 5.

Review: Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

     

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan
______________________________

Pages: 245
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Published: September 13th, 2011
IBSN: 9780375860980

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.  

Evan wasn't exactly stable with Ariel, but now she's gone and left a best-friend-shaped-hole in his life all his pretenses of normality are dropped. To top off his misery, somebody who knew Ariel, somebody she never mentioned, is sending him photos. Strange photos of Ariel and him that only somebody watching them from afar could have taken.

New books from David Levithan are an automatic must-read for me, since Dash And Lily's Book of Dares and The Lover's Dictionary. Every You, Every Me was no different in the fascinating idea and execution and the skillful writing (but that was a given before I'd even read him -- I mean, the edited Shiver and The Hunger Games).

Every You, Every Me began with the cover photograph by Jonathan Farmer, and it evolved from there with Levithan writing a section inspired by each new photograph. Farmer didn't get the read the lead up to each photo before offering each new addition, and this kind of spontaneity of writing intrigued me. Especially since I didn't know about this until the ending, and the photos always meant something to the story and were smoothly plotted.

As always, David Levithan offers a story in fresh prose, in equal parts moving and fascinating. Every You, Every Me was written in the raw and jagged way of actual thought processes, with struck out, repressed thoughts and emotion dripping from the page, stickying your hands with it in a way you couldn't just wipe off on your pants leg.

Every You, Every Me isn't just for fans of psychological thrillers; those themes take a backseat to insight into the mind of someone in emotional anguish, deeper than see in regular first-person grieving stories. Definitely for fans of darker, more serious, YA. Think like Printz winners -- Every You, Every Me will appeal to fans of Please Ignore Vera Dietz, Paper Towns, Nothing.

I give Every You, Every Me a 5 out of 5.

Review: Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor

     

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
______________________________

Pages: 272
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine
Published: October 1st, 2009
IBSN: 9780545055857

A girl who’s always been in the shadows finds herself pursued by the unbelievably attractive new boy at school, who may or may not be the death of her. Another girl grows up mute because of a curse placed on her by a vindictive spirit, and later must decide whether to utter her first words to the boy she loves and risk killing everyone who hears her if the curse is real. And a third girl discovers that the real reason for her transient life with her mother has to do with belonging — literally belonging — to another world entirely, full of dreaded creatures who can transform into animals, and whose queen keeps little girls as personal pets until they grow to childbearing age.

From a writer of unparalleled imagination and emotional insight, three stories about the deliciousness of wanting and waiting for that moment when lips touch.

Laini Taylor teamed up with husband Jim Di Bartolo, illustrator, to create three short stories about the power of a kiss, each emotionally wrenching and magical and imaginative.

Lips Touch: Three Times seemed to improve on what felt initially perfect with each new story. Goblin Fruit, Spicy Little Curses Such As These, and Hatchling, they were named respectively, and also in order of my favourites.

Goblin Fruit was of Kizzy, with longing for something more so tangible that even obvious malicious intent cannot dissuade her. Spicy Little Curses Such As These told the overlapping stories of Estella, liaison between worlds, and Anamique, the girl given the opposing gift of the most beautiful voice and the curse to kill whoever she lets hear it. And the last, Hatchling, introduced a world of rich imagination that I couldn't match with 20 more of me sitting down to brainstorm. The world of the Druj and their human pets and the redemption they find through them was so beautiful and bittersweet.

Each are of my favourite kind of fantasy: breathtakingly unique and teeming with tragedy and temptation (though I do hate myself after reading them for the amount of emotion they evoke that I don't know what to do with. I'm essentially useless after reading such emotionally exhausting books, but I can't stop myself). Kizzy's total abandon, Estella's painful compromises, and Mihai's perseverance all got under my skin.

Laini Taylor writes with a unique flair and a poetic style, perfectly executing otherworldly ideas and bringing characters which tug on the heartstrings to life:

"She was a girl and she was a queen and back in the mists she was a woman who had seized the moon from the sky and drunk its light so that she would never die."

All of this was furthered by the beautiful illustrations to accompany, detailing backstory in the beginning that will have you letting out an understanding "oh!" when you reach the point where that same story is woven in. I've already returned this book to my library (with more than one ignored "due soon!" notice  beforehand), but the image especially of Esme's mother suspended in the cage, rich red hair flowing outward and concealing her face, has stuck with me.

For Lips Touch: Three Times, Laini Taylor has crafted three worlds of contradictions: beautiful and dangerous; romantic and eerie. Three stories in anticipation of kisses that change everything feature fantasical settings that will have you wanted to pack up and move to them despite their malevolent lining.

I give Lips Touch: Three Times a 5 out of 5.

Psst. If you didn't notice, Laini Taylor's newest book, The Daughter Of Smoke And Bone (also brilliant!), is my current book of the month, and you can find your way to a giveaway up top.

Review: The Bridge by Jane Higgins

     

The Bridge by Jane Higgins
______________________________

Pages: 363
Publisher: Text Publishing
Published: August 1st, 2011
IBSN: 9781921758331

The City is divided. The bridges gated. In Southside, the hostiles live in squalor and desperation, waiting for a chance to overrun the residents of Cityside.

Nik is still in high school but destined for a great career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, the brains behind the war. But when ISIS comes recruiting, everyone is shocked when he isn’t chosen. There must be an explanation, but no one will talk about it. Then the school is bombed and the hostiles take the bridges. Buildings are burning, kids are dead, and the hostiles have kidnapped Sol. Now ISIS is hunting for Nik.

But Nik is on the run, with Sol’s sister Fyffe and ISIS hot on their trail. They cross the bridge in search of Sol, and Nik finds answers to questions he’d never dared to ask.

Firstly, that's one hell of a cover. Click the image for a larger look. The artwork is just incredible.

Secondly, this quote:

      Over the Bridge, it's dark not day

      Over the Bridge, the devils play

      Over the Bridge, their souls are BLACK

      Go over the Bridge and you won't come BACK.

Man, that quote.

Anyway, I borrowed The Bridge from my library solely because it won the Text Prize, an award that went to the amazing This Is Shyness last year, and it definitely deserved the accolade.

The Bridge told the story of Nik, a Citysider whose whole life has led up to being recruited by ISIS. But then, he isn't recruited. And his school is bombed. His best friend dies, and another is taken hostage by Southsiders. With Fyffe in tow, he'll cross the bridge and begin to question things that he's always thought were fact.

The Bridge is Jane Higgins' debut novel, and she's made it clear that she's an author to keep an eye on. Her writing is amazing and her storytelling even better; her idea and the execution were both superb. I haven't read a book with such a realistic and raw account of war since Mockingjay.

The characters were all relatable, and understandable. The latter proved to be important in the story, it being one where we really feel restricted by the point of view and often don't know things beyond our main character. With Nik in a foreign place, we don't know much about anyone else either. I don't often feel like I'm restricted by the narration when reading, but I really should. Higgins has done a brilliant job of realistically telling a story: one where we only know what the first person narrator does. It's too often that our protagonists conveniently know too much. Being desperately curious and afraid alongside Nik helped us connect with him on such a deeper level.

Nik's cause was noble and the lengths he went to in order to fulfill it were so admirable. His character was dynamic, with his motivations and opinions constantly changing in a world full of secrets slowly revealed. But he changed as well, and his development was well-captured.

Twists arise throughout the story, and what we find about the mysterious Southside and the other side to the war is found out gradually. The acquisition of knowledge is smooth and we're learning new things until the dramatic end.

This is an incredible story, exceeding expectations in idea and execution. Text Prize recipients seem to be getting better each year, and I can't wait for both the next winner and the next novel from Jane Higgins

I give The Bridge a 5 out of 5.

Review: Past Perfect by Leila Sales

     

Past Perfect by Leila Sales
______________________________

Pages: 322
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: October 4th, 2011
IBSN: 9781442406827

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.  Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it…

Chelsea has worked at Essex Historical Colonial Village for almost as long as she can remember, and was looking forward to finally getting a normal job when her drama club friend roped her into another summer of role-playing in sweating colonial garb. If it wasn't bad enough, her ex-boyfriend has started working there as well. If she can ever get over him, there's a cute boy from the rival civil war reenactors across the road...

Chelsea's voice was immediately captivating, clever and wry. She's quirky and a little neurotic, and so very relatable. She acted self-centered and oblivious at times, but the inclusion of flaws made for a more realistically developed character.

The war between the rival historical reenactors was hilarious, and reminded me of a lighter, simpler Jellicoe Road. Part of the comedy was in how the characters took themselves and their work way too seriously. They place anachronisms like mobile phones in the civil war village and plan it in austere fashion with a leader who treats it all like the actual war. They throw pejoratives like 'farb' around and take it with extreme offense.

The highlight, however, was the romance. Dan and Chelsea's relationship melted even decidedly unromantic me. Their interactions in the odd situations they were thrown together is were just unbearably cute, and by the end their romance becomes touching on a whole other level.

Past Perfect also reminded me of something John Green said in his vlogs: "You don't remember what happened. What you remember becomes what happened." (A quote aptly butchered by memory). Misremembering proves to be an intriguingly large part of the story. There were deeper themes beyond the fluffy, feel-good exterior.

But Past Perfect is, at its simplest, an adorable and warming read.

 This book is for everyone who went out last week to get Lola And The Boy Next Door, finished it the same day, and can't wait until Isla comes out for their cute, fun romance fix. Or just anyone who wants a cute, fun romance fix.

I give Past Perfect a 5 out of 5.

P.S. Has anyone read Leila Sales' other book, Mostly Good Girls? Is it as good as this one?

Review: The Girl Of Fire And Thorns by Rae Carson

The Girl Of Fire And Thorns by Rae Carson


Series: Fire And Thorns (#1)
Pages: 432
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Published: September 20th, 2011
IBSN: 9780062026484

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

Once a century, someone is gifted with the Godstone and destined to complete  some heroic act. Elisa is that someone; an unlikely hero, never living up to her sister and having a larger-than-usual penchant for food. But thrust into a role she isn't ready for, she'll discover a brave part of herself she never knew before.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Girl Of Fire And Thorns. I hadn't read any reviews before beginning, and I'm always wary of epic fantasies (even though I usually love them). But Rae Carson's debut was completely engaging and entirely enjoyable. It's one of the great books I've read recently that pulled me from a reading slump.

Her writing style was smooth, with a distinct and easy flow to it. The language was appropriate to the setting, complete with a few of the cumbersome names typical of epic fantasies.

Elisa was an easily likable main character, with natural flaws and insecurities. She developed a lot as a result of her circumstances, from relatable to admirable. She didn't have a choice, but made the best of her situation and did all she could to save the village. She was compassionate and level-headed and I loved her for it.

Elisa isn't the only noteworthy character, however. Secondary characters were remarkably well fleshed out, and I was always unsuspectingly developing emotional attachments to them. Carson does an excellent job of gradually changing your opinion about a character -- as enemies become friends and friends commit betrayals -- and portraying them in a new light.

The plot was fast-paced, and the twists frequent and unpredictable. Carson didn't shy away from creating dire and intense situations and she wasn't afraid to put her characters under the huge pressures the premise required. Everything turning out in favour of the main character isn't realistic, and this story reflected that. The stakes were constantly high and I was on the edge of my seat the entire way.

The Girl Of Fire And Thorns was an exciting story, perfect as a standalone novel, so I've got mixed feelings about making it into a series. Still, this book is one I'd definitely recommend to fans of fantasy novels like Mistwood, Graceling, and Blood Song.

I give The Girl Of Fire And Thorns a 5 out of 5.

Review: Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma


Pages: 348
Publisher: Dutton
Published: June 14th, 2011
IBSN: 9780525423386

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

Imaginary Girls was an unsettling read, with the eerie atmosphere getting under your skin and standing the hairs on your arms upright. It was completely compelling and beautifully written.

Ruby has everyone in town tied around her finger. The boys all love her, the girls all want to be her, and things just have this way of leaning in her favour. But  her attention is fleeting, she's fickle and spontaneous, and the only person she's tied to is her younger sister, Chloe. Ruby just has this gravity to her -- everything is drawn to and revolves around her, but there's nothing out of the ordinary about that, right?

I was surprised by the affinity I felt with Chloe from so early in the story. Though the premise of a girl living in the shadow of her older sister's vibrant shadow isn't exactly unique, the dynamic is presented in a unique light. From the beginning it was clear that Ruby wasn't my kind of person, but it was easy to see why Chloe felt so strongly about her. And even then, watching the strong grip she had on Ruby loosen slowly was touching and saddening.

The plot was slow-burning, with eerie suspense building until you're conflicted between rushing through to ease your anxiety over what'll happen and slowing to appreciate the amazing prose. Imaginary Girls was Nova Ren Suma's YA debut and second novel, but she wrote in an smooth and poetic fashion that trumped even much more experienced writers.

So much imagery was at play that created clear and vivid mental pictures. So many of the images were so visually arresting: Ruby walking into the reservoir calmly, London pale underwater with her hair swimming around her, releasing the balloons with Ruby's demands penned on them into the air and watching them disperse.

Imaginary Girls also reminded me of my love of paranormal realism, a genre I don't get to read often (if you know any good books in this genre, you should leave a recommendation in the comments and I'll love you forever). The vague and mysterious way the supernatural element was threaded in way so quietly creepy, like an usually busy road without a single person in sight. The ambiguous nature of the story only made it more compelling. Even long after finishing, you'll be wondering what exactly what was happening.

A perfect ending ensued, holding onto the chilling tone and mystery while still concluding parts of the story. The parting image of Chloe sitting alone, waiting, isn't one I'll soon forget.

Imaginary Girls was a haunting and creepy story of a sisterhood that knows no bounds; breathtaking and original with a gritty romance.

I give Imaginary Girls a 5 out of 5.

Review: All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin


Series: Birthright (#1)
Pages: 352
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: September 1st, 2011
IBSN: 9780330537896

It's 2083. There's a chocolate prohibition, and New York City is a very changed place. Art museums are now dance clubs, books are musty relics of the past, water is strictly rationed, and the mafia ruled black market consists of chocolate and caffeine.

And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight – at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Anya is essentially the head of her family. Her grandmother is on her deathbed, her older brother's mental capacity took a turn for the worse after a car accident, and her parents are long dead. But that's not unexpected, given that they led the Balanchine crime family, specialising in distributing illegal chocolate.

She was an exceptionally likeable character; sensible, pragmatic, wry, and strong. She was fiercely loyal of her family, despite their shortcomings, and went to extreme lengths to protect them, even sacrificing her own needs to do so. The way she encountered a problem and immediately and selflessly did what was necessary to fix it was incredibly admirable and made her all the more interesting to read about.

The romantic aspect of the book played a huge role, and this didn't invoke the exasperation non-romantics such as myself would associate with this. Given the personal way in which Anya narrated, her relationship with Win dominating so much of her attention felt natural for her. It was clear how Anya the realist could fall for Win (I mean, his hats), and the way being with him broke her out of her pragmatic shell gave her character a whole other level of depth and relatability.

The setting, a dystopian future, was almost reminiscent of the past. The New York of 2083 had the feel of the New York of the 1920s, with smoky speakeasies and less technology. I liked the notion of our society reaching its peak and then slowly declining back to the past in a symmetrical fashion.

Anya narrated in past tense, taking time occasionally to point out her mistakes in the 20/20 clarity of hindsight. The style was refreshingly original and well executed. The prose itself was smooth and lovely, and had the almost wistful or forlorn quality that you'd be familiar with from Elsewhere and Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac.

The conclusion was stunning, and slightly surprisingly. The final line, "May God forgive me for this and all these things I've done" left me awe-struck, and definitely furthered the impression that the book was written almost like Anya's confession. The next book can't come fast enough!

I give All These Things I've Done a 5 out of 5.

Review: All I Ever Wanted by Vikki Wakefield

All I Ever Wanted by Vikki Wakefield


Pages: 202
Publisher: Text Publishing
Published: June 27th, 2011
IBSN: 9781921758300

Mim knows what she wants, and where she wants to go — anywhere but home, stuck in the suburbs with her mother who won't get off the couch, and two brothers in prison.

She's set herself rules to live by, but she's starting to break them.

Over the nine days before her seventeenth birthday, Mim's life turns upside down. She has problems, and she's determined to solve them herself. But in the end, she works out who her people are, and the same things look entirely different.

Mim's story is sweet and raw, her character likeable in its flaws, and her development and change of heart realistic and gradual. Her story is in equal parts heart-wrenching and heart-warming, and wholly touching.

Mim (short for Jemima) doesn't want to associate herself with the deplorable town she lives in, or the people in it. She just wants to get out. She has volumes and volumes of Lonely Planet travel guides read and reread. She's set herself rules to live by to help her get out, but now she's making new friends and delivering suspicious packages for her mother and her rules are slowly being broken.

Mim was a lovely character to read about, even if lovely isn't the word I'd use to describe her. Seeing her begin to contradict herself and realise her truths aren't truths at all and develop was inspiring, and the way she handled the story's gritty romance at the end at odds to how she introduced it perfectly showed how she'd changed.

On gritty romance, I absolutely loved that part of this book -- the way (spoilers ahead!) she was empowered by rejecting the boy who jerked her around even after she pined for him for so long. I always lament about how the girls so many YA relationships swoon over guys who don't deserve it, and I adore how Mim stood up for herself in this one.

Vikki Wakefield's debut was written in beautifully spare prose that easily evoked emotion from the reader. All of Mim's emotions were so clearly and accurately written that they seemed to pool on the page and sticky our hands. Her narration was so honest and her feelings so raw that I began to feel personally acquainted with her.

Mim's story was a short, sweet, and completely gorgeous one. An Aussie debut from a promising writer.

I give All I Ever Wanted a 5 out of 5.

Review: Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty

Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty

Series: Ashbury/Brookfield (#1)
Pages: 288
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Published: January 10th, 2002.
IBSN: 9780312287368

Life is pretty complicated for Elizabeth Clarry. Her best friend Celia keeps disappearing, her absent father suddenly reappears, and her communication with her mother consists entirely of wacky notes left on the fridge. On top of everything else, because her English teacher wants to rekindle the "Joy of the Envelope," a Complete and Utter Stranger knows more about Elizabeth than anyone else.

But Elizabeth is on the verge of some major changes. She may lose her best friend, find a wonderful new friend, kiss the sexiest guy alive, and run in a marathon.

So much can happen in the time it takes to write a letter...

I don't have much experience with epistolary novels, but my experience with this one was a great one. My concern for a story told entirely through letters was that I wouldn't get a lot of insight into the main character, but the frequent letters from various made-up societies such as "The Cold Hard Truth Society", almost letters to herself, gave us a thorough look into the way Elizabeth thought.

With such a strong, quirky voice, Elizabeth reminded me of Ruby Oliver of E. Lockhart's The Boyfriend List. She was clever, self-deprecating, and had a wry sense of humour. The letters she wrote to herself gave us glimpses into her worries and insecurities that her letters to other people hid behind an endearing and bubbly tone. Her character was fleshed out in a surprising but very welcome way that I didn't expect from the book's format.

The context was also interesting. I had to keep reminding myself this book was written almost 10 years ago, and I was constantly encountering things like 'videos' rather than DVDs and letter writing as a common thing. But with such relatable characters and themes, it was difficult to imagine the story taking place when I was in kindergarten.

The offbeat relationships presented in this book showed unique, fascinating dynamics portrayed in a realistic light. The letters between Elizabeth and her mother and Christina gave depth to their relationships that a regular narrative would not achieve.

Finishing on a touching, hopeful note, highlighting all of the positive that the negative things in Elizabeth's life recently have brought, the conclusion definitely showed how much Elizabeth grew and matured.

Overall, Feeling Sorry For Celia was an incredibly funny and heart-warming story told in a refreshingly different and engaging style.

I give Feeling Sorry For Celia a 5 out of 5. 

Review: Chasing Charlie Duskin by Cath Crowley

Chasing Charlie Duskin by Cath Crowley

Pages: 240
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: April 28th, 2005
IBSN: 9780330421607

Charlie Duskin is running. Fleeing from failures and memories and friends who have given up on her. And she's not only running, she's chasing things - like a father who will talk to her, friends who don't think she's as invisible as a piece of cling wrap, and an experience with a boy in which she doesn't look like an idiot. But Charlie Duskin is about to have the best summer of her life. She's about to meet a friend who'll change her forever. She's about to fall in love. She just doesn't know it yet.

This book may be better known by the title it was published under in the US, A Little Wanting Song. It tells us the story of Charlie, a sweet muffled melody to everyone else's boisterous song, finding her voice.

Narrated in the dual perspectives of Charlie and Rose, the different outlooks on the characters and events give us added depth. We understand how things that happened or were said affected people in different ways, we can see our characters' personalities complemented and juxtaposed -- all due to alternating perspectives. A perfect example of when this definitely added something to the story.

Both characters narrated with distinct and relatable voices in the beautiful, ornate writing style that I was already familiar with from Cath Crowley's Graffiti Moon. Full of vivid imagery and poetic metaphors and similes, every other sentence makes you let out an involuntary and happy sigh.

The characters were all -- every last one -- fleshed out and realistic. I was especially taken with Charlie, whose tone was so soft and sad that I wanted to just big her a huge hug and then hold a microphone up to her so everybody else could hear her, too. Both her and Rose had clear character arcs that intersected in a lovely moment near the conclusion as they began to become real friends.

With narrators that escape the page and seem more real than fictional, beautiful prose, and relatable and touching character development, Chasing Charlie Duskin is a must-read for fans of contemporary or coming-of-age novels.

I give Chasing Charlie Duskin a 5 out of 5.

Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Series: Wolves Of Mercy Falls (#3)
Pages: 384
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published: July 12th, 2011
IBSN: 9780545259088

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives. 

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

In Forever the tables have turned -- now Grace is the wolf, and Sam's the one waiting for his Summer Girl to turn back. Cole is still struggling with himself, and Isabel is just trying to get her life back into her shade of normal.

Maggie Stiefvater's classically lyrical and poetic prose featured again in Forever. It sets the tense, haunting, and melancholic tone of the story. Stiefvater's prose is among the most emotional I've ever read. Reading about Sam and Grace's struggle with the role reversal was heart-wrenching enough, let alone told in such an achingly beautiful fashion.

Back with our four main characters from Linger -- Sam, Grace, Cole, and Isabel -- it took no time to get reacquainted with them. Their voices are clear and so distinct that the changes in narration don't cause any confusion, and all perspectives give something extra to the story.

The characters feel real, and their narration raw and honest. All four main characters are so likeable and realistic and that it's almost impossible to not feel for them. It was so easy to forget sometimes that Cole and Isabel weren't always major parts of the story.

While still at heart a character and relationship-driven novel, the major plot (one carried on from Shiver and Linger) was the most urgent of the series. The drama increases and the stakes get higher with each instalment, and the strong connection built with the characters will have you just as anxious as they are about how it will be resolved.

A perfect and fitting conclusion to one of my favourite series! A must-read for fans of the series.

I give Forever a 5 out of 5.

Review: A Straight Line To My Heart by Bill Condon

A Straight Line To My Heart by Bill Condon

Pages: 228
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: August 1st, 2011
IBSN: 9781742377308

School is over, not just for the year, but forever. Tiff and Kayla are free, which is what they've always wanted, but now summer is nearly at and end and that means life decisions. Tiff is hoping her job at the local paper will lead to something more... But 'The Shark' soon puts her straight on what it takes to become a hard-nosed reporter like him. At home, Reggie - the only grandad she's ever known - has quit the smokes and diagnosed himself as cactus. Then Kayla hits her with some big news. And into all this stumbles Davey, the first boy who has ever really wanted to know her.

Tiff is smart with words and rarely does tears, but in one short week she discovers that words don't always get you there; they don't let you say all the stuff from deep in your heart.

A Straight Line To My Heart is a distinctly Australian coming-of-age story.

Tiff describes herself best as plain. She lives with elderly and tough Reggie and Bull, his son; neither are related to her. Apart from her odd living situation, she leads a fairly unremarkable life. That, however, changes dramatically over the summer after high school finishes forever for her.

Tiff will deal with the loss of loved ones, find new loved ones, puzzle over what to do with her life, but come out the other side a new, stronger person. Her voice is clear, her emotions impossible not to sympathise with, her journey both inspiring and very relatable.

A Straight Line To My Heart sang to the part of me who loves out-of-the-ordinary, non-traditional relationships. Tiff's connections with her family and her friends and one Davey (swoony in how relatable, awkward and goofy he is) were heart-warming and touching. The relationships, like the rest of the novel, was refreshingly original.

Written in such an expert fashion, so easily incorporating realistic Australian colloquial language, this book made me, notorious hater of Aussie slang, warm to the characters. It also created a three-dimensional setting that never resigned to the background, but stayed in the forefront of the story.

Concluded with a sweet ending that will make you take turns crying and grinning, this was a simply lovely contemporary novel.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes their books short and sweet, and especially to fellow Australians (and extra-especially to non-Australians who enjoy Australian books -- it gives a very realistic look into a typical Australian lifestyle).

I give A Straight Line To My Heart a 5 out of 5.

Review: Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

Series: Lharmell (#1)
Pages: 290
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: September 1st, 2011
IBSN: 9781742750965

I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me. 

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares?

Zeraphina is being lured northward and she thinks there could lie the answers to why she has such strange cravings for blood, so when the chance arises to travel there with her sister, she ignores her misgivings and takes it up -- but on arrival, she realises her misgivings may not have been totally unfounded.

If you expect anything even close to a clichéd vampire story from the synopsis, you're completely off. Blood Song proved to be incredibly imaginative and unique. It had all of the best parts of fantasy without all of the worst (and yes, by worst, I mean the cumbersome names. They just roll off your tongue in this one: Lharmell, Amentia).

Zeraphina was a great character to read about. She was strong; she could (and did) hold her own in an argument, and when faced with a challenge, she dealt with it head-on rather than avoiding it. Part of her appeal was in how she realistically stood apart from the other women in the high fantasy setting, and wasn't moony and obsessed with men. Her relationship with Rodden was realistically developed, and their romance never became her number one priority. It was an appreciated sub-plot, a complement to the main plot.

On the topic of setting, the world-building was excellent, and the otherworldly backdrop to the story was vivid and portrayed in an apt light. For instance, Lharmell's creepiness felt tangible in every moment our characters spent there. The setting was richly imaginative and the tone suited it brilliantly.

Written expertly, you wouldn't guess this was Rhiannon's debut. The story was told in compelling prose, constantly foreshadowing and maintaining a tense and eerie tone. The plot took many turns, always unpredictable and exciting.

Blood Song was amazingly imaginative and atmospheric, definitely a welcome addition to the Aussie fantasy scene. I look forward to Rhiannon's future books!

I give Blood Song a 5 out of 5.

I'd recommend it for fans of: Graceling and Burn Bright.

Review: This Is Shyness by Leanne Hall

This Is Shyness by Leanne Hall

Pages: 272
Publisher: Text Publishing
Published: August 2nd, 2010
IBSN: 9781921656521

A guy who howls. A girl on a mission to forget.

In the suburb of Shyness, where the sun doesn’t rise and the border crackles with a strange energy, Wolfboy meets a stranger at the Diabetic Hotel. She tells him her name is Wildgirl, and she dares him to be her guide through the endless night.

But then they are mugged by the sugar-crazed Kidds. And what plays out is moving, reckless...dangerous. There are things that can only be said in the dark. And one long night is time enough to change your life.

This Is Shyness seemed, initially, like a simple, sweet, coming-of-age novel. And I was pleased to find it was actually much more than that.

Shyness is an odd town. The sun stopped rising there years ago, leaving the residents in perpetual darkness. No one knows why, but the people bothered by it have mostly left and the others, the Mushrooms, have flourished in the dark. There are cults like the Dreamers, full of people who sleep constantly and live in their dreams. There are gangs like the Kidds, for small children who take sugar addiction to a whole new level. It's an odd place, and This Is Shyness tells us about Wildgirl's first night there, her adventure through the dark with Wolfboy.

The point of view alternated between our two main characters: Wildgirl and Wolfboy. Their voices were easily discernible and the dual perspective really added something to story: Wildgirl gave us the outsider look at Shyness and Wolfboy gaves us the insider look. Both were incredibly likeable and they complemented each other's personalities superbly.

The characters were easy to empathise with, given the simple and poetic writing style that helped bring the characters to life. Even Wolfboy, with such a strange persona (I mean, he's called Wolfboy for a reason), felt relatable.

The plot was exciting, but what I enjoyed more than that was the less-literal journey the characters took meanwhile. Both beloved protagonists became stronger people through their journey and it was inspiring to watch this transformation.

This Is Shyness was a strange yet touching Australian novel. Incredibly unique and richly imaginative. I recommend it for fans of other books spanning just one life-changing night: Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist, Graffiti Moon.

I give This Is Shyness a 5 out of 5.

Review: Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Pages: 376
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: May 1st, 2011
IBSN: 9781921794094

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

I'd heard great things about Saving June from other Aussie reviewers (inexplicably, it was released here just recently, despite the US release date in November) who have awesome taste in books, so I was naturally excited to get my hands on a copy.

Harper is shocked and saddened by her sister's suicide. June didn't leave anything behind to explain, and Harper decides to steal her ashes and take them to California -- where June was obsessed with going but never went. In tow on her road trip from Michigan to California is Harper's best friend, Laney, and the mysterious friend of June's, Jake.

Saving June was an incredibly emotional and realistic portrayal of the aftermath of a suicide. Each of our central characters had an appropriate reaction to the event, given their relationship to June. Harper's emotional state was conveyed clearly through the tone in which she narrated. I felt incredibly sympathetic for her.

But beyond the emotional, grieving part of the story, Saving June is also a really fun read. Road trips with cool best friends and mysterious, music-obsessed guys! Visiting tourist traps like Fridgehenge! I was under the impression that this book would be a solemn, quiet drive to spread her sister's ashes, but there were so many fun stops along the way.

The musical aspect to Saving June was spectacular. Harper and Jake bonded over the music that plays such a large role in Jake's life. The constant musical references also help to set the tone of the story, with many of the songs they play on the journey emotional and heart-wrenching and written from the artist's own pain.

An emotional, fun, well-paced story about grieving and moving on, topped with a sweet and touching conclusion, Saving June is right up there with my favourite contemporaries.


I give Saving June a 5 out of 5.

______________________________________

Favourite quote:

"It's actually one of my favourite shows, too -- though, granted, it has less to do with the nature stuff and more to do with the fact that Skye has cheekbones you could sharpen knives on, a yummy Australian accent and wash-board abs."

(Favourite because, of course, the name. Though this Skye is also Australian, this one's male. I'll never, ever get used to my name being unisex!)

Review: The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan

Series: The Demon's Lexicon (#3)
Pages: 400
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: June 14th
IBSN: 9781416963837

The Goblin Market has always been the centre of Sin's world. She's a dancer and a performer, secure in her place. But now the Market is at war with the magicians, and Sin's place is in danger. Keeping secrets from the market she loves, struggling with a friend who has become a rival, Sin is thrown together with the Ryves brothers, Nick and Alan - whom she's always despised. But Alan has been marked by a magician, to be tortured as the magician pleases, and as Sin watches Alan struggle to protect the demon brother he loves, she begins to see both brothers in a new light. But how far will brother go to save brother - and what will it cost them all?

A dramatic and stunning conclusion to the trilogy! The Demon's Lexicon series is one of my favourites, and Surrender definitely did not disappoint.

The stakes have risen with each instalment in the series. The plot was at all times either intense or foreshadowing, keeping me on the edge of my seat. There were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming. Sarah Rees Brennan's books are among the few that I can't predict the ending to, and I love them for that.

I love this kind of pacing: a series of smaller complications all adding up to the final, overall problem.

I wasn't overly intrigued by Sin in the first two books, but with this one from her perspective, I grew to like her in same way I did Mae when I didn't expect to in Covenant. She gave a whole new perspective to the setting, coming from a different background. The narration switches have definitely helped the amazing world-building. 

The relationships between characters are incredibly unique and interesting. I love reading about Alan and Nick's bond - actually, just the relationship between Nick and anyone else. Being unfeeling makes for relationships that are...different.

The romance in this trilogy has been subtle; definitely there, but not the main focus. It's developed realistically given the duress the characters are typically under, making them hesitant.

A perfect ending to the trilogy. I'll miss the characters, but I'm happy with them in the place they reached. I really can't wait to see what Sarah comes up with for future books!

I give The Demon's Surrender a 5 out of 5.

Review: Split by Swati Avasthi

Split by Swati Avasthi

Pages: 282
Publisher: Knopf
Published: March 9th, 2010
IBSN:  9780375863400

Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.

He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can’t make him forget what he left behind—his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret.

At least so far.

Worst of all, Jace realizes that if he really wants to move forward, he may first have to do what scares him most: He may have to go back. 

Split is an amazingly real and raw portrayal of domestic abuse and redemption. From the very first page - nay, the synopsis - I was hooked and emotionally invested in the characters' journey.

The characters in Split will grab hold of your heart from the very beginning and won't let go. They're all fleshed out and incredibly easy to sympathise with. My favourite character would have had to be Mirriam: strong, thoughtful, and calm. Really, she was the hero of the story. She wasn't afraid to deal with the things that Jace and Christian would rather forget and ignore.

Jace and Christian's relationship was dynamic and constantly strengthening, weakening, always changing. There's years of absence between them, shared experiences they'd rather forget, and secrets kept that stop them from becoming as close-knit as they were before. But watching their relationship grow from when Jace shows up at Christian's door is heart-warming and so true-to-life.

Avasthi's prose was spare and emotional, completely compelling in itself. The character arcs felt natural and were inspiring to watch. Really, there isn't a negative thing I have to say about Split.

Swati Avasthi has written an insightful and touching debut that anyone interested in darker, character-driven YA should read.


I give Split a 5 out of 5.

Review: A Pocketful Of Eyes by Lili Wilkinson

A Pocketful Of Eyes by Lili Wilkinson

Pages: 324
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: May 2011
IBSN: 9781742376196

Bee is in her element volunteering in the taxidermy department at the Museum-but her summer job turns out to be full of surprises including:

A dead body in the Red Rotunda.
A mysterious Museum benefactor.
A large stuffed tiger in the catacombs.
A handsome boy with a fascination for unusual animal mating habits.
And a pocket full of glass eyes.

Can Bee sift through the clues and discover if her colleague committed suicide or if there's a murderer in their midst?

A Pocketful Of Eyes is a quirky, fun, and unique murder mystery novel for reluctant mystery novel readers. I count myself in that group.

The first thing you'll notice in A Pocketful Of Eyes is the main character. She's clever, funny, and a little peculiar (which I suppose you need to be to work as a taxidermist for the summer), and her voice is strong and apparent in each word. With each piece of narration, even through third person, I felt as though I knew her a little better, and liked her a little more.

And while I'm talking about how much I liked Bee, I should also talk about Toby - one of my favourite love interests I've ever read. He was sweet, funny, and full of strange animal trivia.

I'm no stranger to Lili Wilkinson's prose, but I was blown away by it all over again. Spare and emotional, her writing style is simply amazing.

The mystery was well-crafted. Though there were many clues, the culprit was unclear to both the reader and the narrator initially. It took a realistically long amount of time to reach the solution, where there was an interesting twist I never saw coming.


I give A Pocketful Of Eyes a 5 out of 5. I really hope to see it reach non-Australian readers in the near future.