Book review - Every Exquisite Thing

Title: Every Exquisite Thing
Author: Matthew Quick
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Looking for Alaska by John Green
                     The Other Way Around by Sashi Kaufman
Rating:

Not a clone - what a relief

Summary(provided by publisher): Nanette O'Hare is an unassuming teen who has played the role of dutiful daughter, hardworking student, and star athlete for as long as she can remember. But when a beloved teacher gives her his worn copy of The Bugglegum Reaper--a mysterious, out-of-print cult classic--the rebel within Nanette awakens.
As she befriends the reclusive author, falls in love with a young but troubled poet, and attempts to insert her true self into the world with wild abandon, Nanette learns the hard way that rebellion sometimes comes at a high price.
A celebration of the self and the formidable power of story, Every Exquisite Thing is Matthew Quick at his finest.

My opinion: Initially I was somewhat annoyed with this book. It can be wearying, reading about determined outsiders all of the time. Books tend to portray teen protagonists as quirky, literature loving, popularity shunning, and perfectly happy with their somewhat-outside-the-mainstream lives. They might get some guff from their popular peers but they are singularly unbothered by that lack of understanding. I was prepared to sigh and roll my eyes throughout the bulk of this book. Then Quick threw a curve ball, taking his characters far outside the norm. They reject most societal conventions, making choices that will have significant impact on the rest of their lives. They're lonely in spite of finding kindred spirits, depressed, and constantly question the choices they are making. Fear drives Nanette back into some semblance of the norm. Her friend, steadfastly following his new path, self destructs. I loved the constant question and re-evaluating. 
It's quirky and not for fans of mainstream fiction. More subversive than John Green, this is a book for the teen who refuses to do something or like something just because "they" say you should.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

A Martha-style blazer

A while back I had a notion that I might take a cardigan and give it elbow patches made of t-shirt fabric. I hunted through a handful of thrift shops for the perfect cardigan with no luck. What I did find, though, was a blazer. At only a dollar I figured I could make it work for my idea. Instead of t-shirt, though, I used some Hawaiian fabric I had tucked away. The result is almost better than my original idea.

 

Book review - The Messengers

Title: The Messengers: Discovered
Author: Lisa M. Clark
Genre: dystopia
Similar books: The Giver by Lois Lowry
                     Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rating:

Nicely done

Summary(provided by publisher):  The Message worth dying for . . .
There’s a truth out there to be discovered, a truth the government will stop at nothing to stamp out. By day, fifteen-year-old Simon pushes against the government’s control over his curfew, his meals, his fun. And by night, secret visitors and hidden messages make him question everything his life entails.
There’s a truth out there to be discovered, a truth the government will stop at nothing to eliminate. Join Simon and the Messengers as they risk their lives to protect it.

My opinion: Of all the situations proposed by dystopian novels, this is one I can easily imagine actually occurring, where religion, art, imagination, and innovation are pushed out in favor of logic, science, and reason. With societal apathy leading the way, its easy to see how such a society could develop. This novel has a solid cast of characters and pacing. With constant exploration, learning, and revelation of a secret society, it remains pretty exciting throughout. I was less than thrilled with the final scenes, which had some logical failings. We have our main characters in this highly charged, life-threatening situation and suddenly the villain just stops and turns the people's attention to a new entertainment. We needed more explanation of why he didn't proceed with his plan, a more explicit statement. A solid read, especially for kids with a religious leaning.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Books on screen

Ella Enchanted

I actually saw the movie version of this one before I even knew the book existed. That is probably why I enjoy both of them. There are some small, though notable, differences between the two. For instance, in Levine's original novel Ella and Char are friends in their youth, before Ella is sent to charm school where she meets her soon-to-be stepsisters, Olive and Hattie. The book has far more magical entanglements, more "gifts" bestowed by the fairy Lucinda that complicate Ella's life. The resolution is simpler in the movie, a single ball with a poisoned crown plot set by Char's uncle (also his guardian), while the book has a series of matchmaking balls set by Char's parents (not dead in this version) that Ella attends in costume before a group of plotters get hold of her and force her to become a part of their plot. I'd also say that the movie is cheesier though that cheesiness actually works in it's favor, giving it a sort of eye-rolling charm While it's not the most faithful representation of a book I've ever seen, this movie is well worth watching. Just don't be afraid to give the book a read as well.

Book review - Time Stoppers

Title: Time Stoppers
Author: Carrie Jones
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by Aimee Carter
                     The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Rating:

Okay, not great

 Summary(provided by publisher): Annie Nobody thought she was, well, nobody, living in a nowhere town where nothing goes her way. Day 1 at her newest foster home proves to be dreadful, too . . . and things get even worse when she's chased by something big and scary that definitely wants to eat her.
Luckily for Annie, not everything is what it seems, and she gets swept up--literally--by a sassy dwarf on a hovercraft snowmobile and taken to Aurora, a hidden, magical town on the coast of Maine. There, she finds a new best friend in Jamie Hephastion Alexander--who thought he was a normal kid (but just might be a troll)--and Annie discovers that she's not exactly who she thought she was, either. She's a Time Stopper, meant to protect the enchanted.
Together, Annie and Jamie discover a whole new world of magic, power, and an incredible cast of creatures and characters. But where there's great power, there are also those who want to misuse it, and Aurora is under siege. It's up to the kids to protect their new home, even if it means diving headfirst into magical danger.

My opinion: I go back and forth with this one. The plot, while serious in nature, is more playful and almost mocking in it's tone. While the plot is entirely appropriate for it's middle grade audience, I'm not sure the tone is there yet. It tries too hard to feel like kids talking and ends up feeling out of touch and almost condescending. I'm fond of the world building and the premise but I feel like the characters are over-simplified. I think it's a series that will go over fairly well with young readers, especially fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, but less so with adult readers.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

A most unusual rabbit

This week's craft comes from a little doodle I idly made on the edge of a paper a few weeks ago. 

This little guy really wanted to be a puppet. So, I hauled out my sock stash and this is what I came up with:

Book review - Holding Smoke

Title: Holding Smoke
Author: Elle Cosimano
Genre: mystery
Similar books: Burning by Danielle Rollins
                     The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
Rating:

Really hit the spot

Summary(provided by publisher): John "Smoke" Conlan is serving time for two murders-but he wasn't the one who murdered his English teacher, and he never intended to kill the only other witness to the crime. A dangerous juvenile rehabilitation center in Denver, Colorado, known as the Y, is Smoke's new home and the only one he believes he deserves.
But, unlike his fellow inmates, Smoke is not in constant imprisonment. After a near death experience leaves him with the ability to shed his physical body at will, Smoke is able to travel freely outside the concrete walls of the Y, gathering information for himself and his fellow inmates while they're asleep in their beds. Convinced his future is only as bright as the fluorescent lights in his cell, Smoke doesn't care that the "threads" that bind his soul to his body are wearing thin-that one day he may not make it back in time. That is, until he meets Pink, a tough, resourceful girl who is sees him for who he truly is and wants to help him clear his name.
Now Smoke is on a journey to redemption he never thought possible. With Pink's help, Smoke may be able to reveal the true killer, but the closer they get to the truth, the more deadly their search becomes. The web of lies, deceit, and corruption that put Smoke behind bars is more tangled than they could have ever imagined. With both of their lives on the line, Smoke will have to decide how much he's willing to risk, and if he can envision a future worth fighting for.

My Opinion: I liked this book far more than I expected, given that it has significant supernatural elements, not my usual favorites. In this book it really works, perhaps because those elements aren't overwhelming. John and Pink talk to ghosts, sure, and the environment reflects the standard ghost signs: cold air, objects moving and lights flickering when the spirit is angry, that kind of thing. This book is so much more than just ghosts, though. You have the mystery (the murder for which John was imprisoned), the idea of hoping for a future beyond imprisonment, learning to trust people. 
I wasn't thrilled with the resolution. I found the last few chapters kind of muddled and hurried. This is a minor but notable flaw in an otherwise excellent novel with distinct and complex characters, genuine perspectives, and a logical and compelling plot.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.