Book review - Burning

Burning by Danielle Rollins

This was a good choice for this point in my line-up. The sci-fi/horror vibe was a nice change of pace. The trend of solid reads continues. Firstly, the world of the detention center is solidly portrayed. I liked that while each girl is individual, has her own quirks, personality, and habits, Rollins doesn't try too hard to make them vastly different. There isn't that "Breakfast Club" vibe that some books try too hard to build. In the end, the girls are just girls, brought together by bad choices and circumstance. while there are sci-fi elements (pyrokinesis, specifically) they aren't the main focus of the novel, making it readable even for those who don't typically read genre fiction. While the ending was a little less than satisfying, the majority of the book is well worth your time.

Pages in this book: 352
Pages read so far in challenge: 1328

Book review - When We Collided

When We Collided by Emery Lord


Oh man! Some weeks it seems like I read one mediocre book after another. This challenge, though, finds me reading a series of mind-blowing books. I expected this to be a standard teen romance. It has some of those elements: the meet-cute, the misunderstandings that cause relationship strife, that kind of thing. But it is so much more than all that. At heart, this is a story of grief and mental illness, realistically portrayed. I was a little concerned at first, with the scene of Vivi throwing her medication into the ocean. Lord's approach, though, resolves itself to a more sensible, realistic approach to medication. Vivi must find the balance between her health and her sense of freedom. This is a book I could easily see recommending to others.

Pages in this book: 352
Pages read so far in challenge: 976

Book review - Fifteen Lanes

Fifteen Lanes by S.J. Laidlaw


An absolutely beautiful, heartbreaking book. Fifteen Lanes tells the story of two very different girls who's lives have reached a precipice. Grace's life has always been relatively easy. When her only friend moves away, Grace is flattered by the texts she's been receiving from someone claiming to be a popular boy at school and in an instant, she makes a decision that she can't take back and which has an immediate affect on the rest of her life. Noor is the oldest daughter of a sex worker and has lived her entire life in the brothel. Now that her teen years are upon her, it is expected that she will follow in her mother's footsteps. For the first time, though, Noor has begun to dream of more. Circumstance brings these two girls together and that contact changes both of their lives. With a realistic cast of characters and a compelling plot this is a great, emotionally complex, read.

Pages in this book: 304
Pages read so far in challenge: 624

Book review - Girl in the Blue Coat

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse


This was a great read to start out this challenge. Well written with a complex cast of characters. Tight pacing with a strong air of mystery and conspiracy. Like many novels set during WWII, there's a desire for freedom and justice that is defeated at every turn. There is grief and tragedy, horrible things that happen in spite of complex efforts to set things right. A great choice for fans of historical fiction.


Pages in this book: 320
Pages read so far in challenge: 320

And we're off!

I'm super excited to be taking part in the 24 hour read-a-thon! I've got my books lined up and am ready to go. Hopefully you'll see my first review on here in just a few hours.

A quick update

I'll be participating in Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon this weekend. This means that I'll be attempting to read non-stop from 8am Saturday to 8am Sunday. I've set a personal goal of 6 books during the challenge. You can follow my progress here and on my Goodreads.

Book review - Hippopotamister

Title: Hippopotamister
Author: John Patrick Green
Genre: graphic novel
Similar books: March Grand Prix by Kean Soo
                     Stinky Cecil in Operation Pond Rescue by Paige Braddock
Rating:

cute and surprisingly thoughtful

Summary(provided by publisher): The zoo isn't what it used to be. It's run down, and Hippo hardly ever gets any visitors. So he decides to set off for the outside with his friend Red Panda. To make it in the human world, Hippo will have to become a Hippopotamister: he'll have to act like a human, get a job, and wear a hat as a disguise. He's a good employee, whether he's a construction worker, a hair stylist, or a sous chef. But what he really needs is a job where he can be himself.

My opinion: This graphic novel can be appreciated on multiple levels. At the surface you have this simple story of two friends trying to find their place in the world and how it takes more than one person's strengths for an endeavor to succeed. Decent messages and solidly conveyed. When one considers it further, one can find a lot more meaning. Let's consider the two main characters. Red Panda is the first to leave the zoo. He comes back daily, talking about how great his job is, thou the reader will notice that said job changes daily. He's perpetually optimistic. Even though every job fails, he's certain that the next one will be perfect. Failure doesn't bring him down. Hippo succeeds at most everything. He has talent and works well under direction. Yet when Red Panda's mistakes get him fired, Hippo leaves too. He's very loyal to his friend and doesn't get upset with him for screwing up a good thing. And really, he needs Red Panda spurring him on. Otherwise he wouldn't have left the zoo. Then consider the rest of the animals. They lie about, despondent, as their home crumbles around them. This leads us to the third message - the need for action. Nothing gets fixed by moping. When he puts his mid to it, Hippo can get the zoo back to pristine condition and Red Panda can draw crowds. But none of it happens without effort. A surprisingly deep set of messages for a simple and entertaining book.

More information: Hippopotamister releases May 10.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.