Kicking off Banned Books Week, Crank is a highly challenged novel. And let me tell you–if you want a controversial book, this is it. It has everything: drugs, sex, profanity, rape, teenage pregnancy, hematophagy (drinking blood), suicide, homosexuality, divorce, absentee parents, and even mentions the occult. I actually listened to the audiobook for this one, making it the first audiobook I’ve ever consumed! It was … Continue reading Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Usually I take notes on books so that when I write a review it’s easier for me to remember everything I wanted to talk about. Seraphina was so good, though, that I didn’t even think to start a new note on my phone! I was enraptured from the very beginning. I got the book from the library, but I can’t wait to buy it so … Continue reading Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
At its core, Delirium is a coming of age story. It’s about a girl who learns who she is and what she is made of. As the story progresses, Lena learns to accept herself and to make her own decisions about life instead of doing things just because someone told her it was good or bad. Most importantly, she grows up and learns that sometimes … Continue reading Delirium by Lauren Oliver
This book is absolutely fantastic! Han “Cuffs” Alister is a reformed streetlord trying to take care of his Mam and sister, Mari—without thieving—using the skills he learned from summers in the forest with the clans. Times are tough, and the little money that he manages to make is often in danger from being stolen from the rival gang in Southgate who doesn’t know that he’s … Continue reading The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
Fans of flying and science, this is your novel! My ambivalent feelings toward The Atlantis Complex made me weary as I started reading Airman. I was nervous that one of my favorite childhood authors would let me down. Far from disappointing me, Eoin Colfer exceeded my expectations. Airman is an excellent steampunk adventure novel about young Conor Broekhart, who loves science and is obsessed with … Continue reading Airman by Eoin Colfer
When I found out that Suzanne Collins had another series after I finished the Hunger Games, I was ecstatic. Three chapters into the Underland Chronicles, and I had to check the cover to make sure that I really was reading the right author. Gregor the Overlander is about a boy from New York City who accidentally falls down a hole one summer while watching his … Continue reading Suzanne Collins Before the Hunger Games
This book was absolutely lovely! Though, that really isn’t surprising considering that it was a Newbery Honoree in 2006. Whenever a Prince of Danland becomes eligible for marriage, the priests divine what territory the future princess will come from. This time, they divine that she will come from Mt. Eskel, an outlying mining province that is typically left out. The Princess Academy that is customarily … Continue reading Princess Academy
