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diamondxgirl
Overall a solid series that walks us through the dangers that come along with suddenly acquiring super powers without any formal structure. Superman and Batman have the set of rules but Josh is new to this game so he's making it up as he goes along. That means trouble brews and he must find a way to manage it, which might be different than you would imagine.
I'm a big fan of other types of writers (song writers, screenwriters) as well as Eric Kripke so Jacked is a great opportunity as far as I'm concerned!
I'm a big fan of other types of writers (song writers, screenwriters) as well as Eric Kripke so Jacked is a great opportunity as far as I'm concerned!
Beauty Queens was everything I wanted it to be, especially since I read it over audio and Libba Bray really just needs to be everyone's BFF. SO.GREAT.
Beauty queens marooned on an island. What a great concept (apparently conceived by David Levithan). These girls are the stereotype of all things QUEEN. They're slightly ditzy, slightly fake, obsessed with themselves...But also, they're a team. They manage to survive the island (and the corporation, who is about as creepy as can be).
Highly recommend when you're trying to get out of a book slump, get through a book hangover, or just when you want something continuously funny and ridiculous.
4/5 stars because it dragged a bit at the end.
Beauty queens marooned on an island. What a great concept (apparently conceived by David Levithan). These girls are the stereotype of all things QUEEN. They're slightly ditzy, slightly fake, obsessed with themselves...But also, they're a team. They manage to survive the island (and the corporation, who is about as creepy as can be).
Highly recommend when you're trying to get out of a book slump, get through a book hangover, or just when you want something continuously funny and ridiculous.
4/5 stars because it dragged a bit at the end.
Did I really give a Gayle Forman book 3 stars? I'm still shocked myself.
I Was Here was heavy. Cody's best friend, Meg, dies by suicide, which sends Cody deeply into the stages of grief. On a quest to put the pieces together, we watch Cody go through each of the stages, from denial to acceptance, sometimes moving fluidly between them.
It gets really heavy when Cody discovers that Meg had visited a suicide support forum and there's one specific person who encouraged her. On the flip side, Cody meets a boy who Meg was close to end they (of course) develop a relationship. There is a strong message of hope wrapped into the fairly realistic story.
Three stars because while the book is heavy, it didn't leave me sobbing or really grasp me. I wouldn't recommend this for teens unless there's an adult ready to talk with them while they're reading.
I Was Here was heavy. Cody's best friend, Meg, dies by suicide, which sends Cody deeply into the stages of grief. On a quest to put the pieces together, we watch Cody go through each of the stages, from denial to acceptance, sometimes moving fluidly between them.
It gets really heavy when Cody discovers that Meg had visited a suicide support forum and there's one specific person who encouraged her. On the flip side, Cody meets a boy who Meg was close to end they (of course) develop a relationship. There is a strong message of hope wrapped into the fairly realistic story.
Three stars because while the book is heavy, it didn't leave me sobbing or really grasp me. I wouldn't recommend this for teens unless there's an adult ready to talk with them while they're reading.
Midnighter is one scary bada$$! What I love about him is he's real. He lives by a different code than the Bat-Fam, making him a great person to put with Grayson. But don't mistake my saying that to be anything. Midnighter holds his own.
What Midnighter brings to the take is equally story and the necessary diversity we need in comics. Midnighter is gay and we get to experience some of his relationships within the story. The art and writing are phenomenal so don't miss this one!
What Midnighter brings to the take is equally story and the necessary diversity we need in comics. Midnighter is gay and we get to experience some of his relationships within the story. The art and writing are phenomenal so don't miss this one!
Robin War was the first comic event I ever read and was a great experience for a first timer!
Bookended by "Robin War" issues, much of the story takes place through several other books ranging from simple tie-ins to plot forwarding issues. You'll experience books you may not ever pick up otherwise, which is a bonus.
Gotham is a dreary place without Batman. The Robins, a self selected group of kids who have charged themselves with trying to keep order, are under siege for illegal vigilante activity. This is the story of them trying to save their city while also keeping their heads.
I recommend picking this up in trade rather than following the single issues. If you go with singles, feel free to skip the tie-ins (save for Gotham Academy because the book is great and the tie-in is adorable).
Bookended by "Robin War" issues, much of the story takes place through several other books ranging from simple tie-ins to plot forwarding issues. You'll experience books you may not ever pick up otherwise, which is a bonus.
Gotham is a dreary place without Batman. The Robins, a self selected group of kids who have charged themselves with trying to keep order, are under siege for illegal vigilante activity. This is the story of them trying to save their city while also keeping their heads.
I recommend picking this up in trade rather than following the single issues. If you go with singles, feel free to skip the tie-ins (save for Gotham Academy because the book is great and the tie-in is adorable).
I just finished The Lovely Reckless less than five minutes ago and I already have a major book hangover.
"We grew up together, and Noah was one of my best friends. But he feels so far away...And you're my right now."
Frankie witnessed her boyfriend's murder, which should be enough trauma for anyone. But Frankie also has the burden of not being able to remember the person who murdered him, adding to her pain from the situation. No one seems to understand what's happening with her, until she makes the mistake of drinking and driving. From there, her life shifts majorly. She is forced to live with her father, who is an undercover cop, change from her private school to a public school, and overall develop who she really is. And of course, she meets Marco, a misunderstood kid from across the tracks.
The first 270 pages build up for the last ~100, which would normally annoy me. But The Lovely Reckless never feels tedious. For me, it was one of those books you don't want to put down.
A lot of people love YA because the emotional connection is so real and raw. If you're one of those people, this book is for you. You'll love watching Frankie figure out her world and navigate through her loss. You'll be concerned for her. You'll bite your nails with worry. You won't want to stop, even when it's over.
**I received a copy of The Lovely Reckless at a festival. It was on my TBR long before that; how I received the book had no bearing on my opinions here.
"We grew up together, and Noah was one of my best friends. But he feels so far away...And you're my right now."
Frankie witnessed her boyfriend's murder, which should be enough trauma for anyone. But Frankie also has the burden of not being able to remember the person who murdered him, adding to her pain from the situation. No one seems to understand what's happening with her, until she makes the mistake of drinking and driving. From there, her life shifts majorly. She is forced to live with her father, who is an undercover cop, change from her private school to a public school, and overall develop who she really is. And of course, she meets Marco, a misunderstood kid from across the tracks.
The first 270 pages build up for the last ~100, which would normally annoy me. But The Lovely Reckless never feels tedious. For me, it was one of those books you don't want to put down.
A lot of people love YA because the emotional connection is so real and raw. If you're one of those people, this book is for you. You'll love watching Frankie figure out her world and navigate through her loss. You'll be concerned for her. You'll bite your nails with worry. You won't want to stop, even when it's over.
**I received a copy of The Lovely Reckless at a festival. It was on my TBR long before that; how I received the book had no bearing on my opinions here.
I made the mistake of reading this right after Gayle Forman's I Was Here (also about suicide) and The Lovely Reckless (about a girl who witnesses a homicide). Three heavy books all at once is not my finest moment.
I became interested in the series after seeing Suzanne talk about her latest release (The Epidemic). The concept is intriguing, a society where suicide in teens is an epidemic and parents/society are so desperate to keep their kids safe that they send them to essentially be re-programmed. Sloane and her boyfriend, James, are two of those kids, after having experienced the death by suicide of a close friend/Sloane's brother. At the core of the story is the nature vs nurture argument. Are you the same person minus your memories and experiences? There's also a bit of fate/destiny present. There's exploration about how we medicate kids and try to remove their emotions currently.
I see people talking about how this is a dystopian novel. It is not. This is much more scifi than dystopian.
The book could have been much shorter or added more content. There was a lot of explaining and depth for things that really didn't need a lot. A lot was drawn out.
I'll likely continue the series, as I am interested in the prequels a lot more than the actual story!
I became interested in the series after seeing Suzanne talk about her latest release (The Epidemic). The concept is intriguing, a society where suicide in teens is an epidemic and parents/society are so desperate to keep their kids safe that they send them to essentially be re-programmed. Sloane and her boyfriend, James, are two of those kids, after having experienced the death by suicide of a close friend/Sloane's brother. At the core of the story is the nature vs nurture argument. Are you the same person minus your memories and experiences? There's also a bit of fate/destiny present. There's exploration about how we medicate kids and try to remove their emotions currently.
I see people talking about how this is a dystopian novel. It is not. This is much more scifi than dystopian.
The book could have been much shorter or added more content. There was a lot of explaining and depth for things that really didn't need a lot. A lot was drawn out.
I'll likely continue the series, as I am interested in the prequels a lot more than the actual story!
You need this. The world needs this. WE ALL NEED THIS.
American Alien is hands down the best comic series to debut this year. Really, what would it be like for Clark Kent to grow up as an alien living in a human world? We see so much of him as an adult and we even got to see a bit of teen Clark in Smallville but we haven't seen Clark this raw and real until now.
Each story is a self-contained moment in Clark's life. There are familiar characters and canon events but this is very much an out of continuity story. That's actually what makes it great...Landis gets Superman at his heart, which is arguably human in nature vs. nurture.
My mini-recaps and thoughts on each of the stories:
1. Primary School Clark - Really, imagine being a kid and discovering you have powers. Your parents know SOMETHING is different about you but no one really knows what all you'll develop. You're accidentally flying, accidentally eavesdropping, accidentally blowing stuff up. Do your parents risk taking you to a scientist and turning you over to Area 51? Plus you're watching scifi films and seeing how the human race might treat aliens. How terrifying it would be for young Clark! 5/5 stars.
2. Teenage Clark - Clark might be a boy scout goodie-goodie but let's be real, teenagers are teenagers. Here we see the depth of Clark's friendship with Pete. Of course he's peaking through people's clothes with his x-ray vision. Of course he's confused about if he really wants to spend his time helping others with powers he never asked for. He's confused that people think he's a monster and how best to use his powers, if at all. He's a teenager and his brain and personal morals are still developing. 4/5
3. College Clark - Following a plane crash, Clark ends up on a yacht where a party is in full swing and people mistake him for (mysterious) birthday boy, Bruce Wayne. Rather than try to fight it, the Kansas grown boy owns being a millionaire for a day and parties it up. The party is short lived when Deathstroke shows up and poisons who he thinks is Wayne. The poison essentially produces a drunken Clark for a bit before he boots Deathstroke off into space. 5/5 (this is a must read!)
4. Intern Clark - This is my personal favorite story within the series. Clark is sent to interview Lex Luthor. Along the way, he runs into young Dick Grayson in the LexCorp Kidz-Zone. We see baby Grayson use his skills of analysis to figure out Clark is more than what he seems. This leads Batman to show up and ask a few questions, launching Landis' version of Batman vs Superman. 5/5
5. ?-Man Clark - Just how did Superman get his name? This story explores just that. Superman is literally just starting to make a name for himself as a hero (and with Lois!). It also shows us where Lex and Clark started down their dark path. 3/5
6. New Adult Clark - The old gang comes to visit city-boy Clark. His new identity is not well received by his high school besties, who call him out for being a hipster tool and later for not fully understanding what it means to be a superhero. In a fit of anger, Clark flies out of the atmosphere and into Green Lantern territory. He returns to make amends with his friends and all is right again. 4/5
7. Superman - I was initially disappointed in this issue but have reflected on it and now understand why Landis chose to end the series this way. We see Clark fully embody Superman and fight to save the human race. There are some really great fight scenes in this issue! We are left with Lois and Clark asking the quintessential question...What now? 4/5
Overall a solid mini-series and I hope Landis will continue to give us stories we didn't know we wanted, but we need.
American Alien is hands down the best comic series to debut this year. Really, what would it be like for Clark Kent to grow up as an alien living in a human world? We see so much of him as an adult and we even got to see a bit of teen Clark in Smallville but we haven't seen Clark this raw and real until now.
Each story is a self-contained moment in Clark's life. There are familiar characters and canon events but this is very much an out of continuity story. That's actually what makes it great...Landis gets Superman at his heart, which is arguably human in nature vs. nurture.
My mini-recaps and thoughts on each of the stories:
1. Primary School Clark - Really, imagine being a kid and discovering you have powers. Your parents know SOMETHING is different about you but no one really knows what all you'll develop. You're accidentally flying, accidentally eavesdropping, accidentally blowing stuff up. Do your parents risk taking you to a scientist and turning you over to Area 51? Plus you're watching scifi films and seeing how the human race might treat aliens. How terrifying it would be for young Clark! 5/5 stars.
2. Teenage Clark - Clark might be a boy scout goodie-goodie but let's be real, teenagers are teenagers. Here we see the depth of Clark's friendship with Pete. Of course he's peaking through people's clothes with his x-ray vision. Of course he's confused about if he really wants to spend his time helping others with powers he never asked for. He's confused that people think he's a monster and how best to use his powers, if at all. He's a teenager and his brain and personal morals are still developing. 4/5
3. College Clark - Following a plane crash, Clark ends up on a yacht where a party is in full swing and people mistake him for (mysterious) birthday boy, Bruce Wayne. Rather than try to fight it, the Kansas grown boy owns being a millionaire for a day and parties it up. The party is short lived when Deathstroke shows up and poisons who he thinks is Wayne. The poison essentially produces a drunken Clark for a bit before he boots Deathstroke off into space. 5/5 (this is a must read!)
4. Intern Clark - This is my personal favorite story within the series. Clark is sent to interview Lex Luthor. Along the way, he runs into young Dick Grayson in the LexCorp Kidz-Zone. We see baby Grayson use his skills of analysis to figure out Clark is more than what he seems. This leads Batman to show up and ask a few questions, launching Landis' version of Batman vs Superman. 5/5
5. ?-Man Clark - Just how did Superman get his name? This story explores just that. Superman is literally just starting to make a name for himself as a hero (and with Lois!). It also shows us where Lex and Clark started down their dark path. 3/5
6. New Adult Clark - The old gang comes to visit city-boy Clark. His new identity is not well received by his high school besties, who call him out for being a hipster tool and later for not fully understanding what it means to be a superhero. In a fit of anger, Clark flies out of the atmosphere and into Green Lantern territory. He returns to make amends with his friends and all is right again. 4/5
7. Superman - I was initially disappointed in this issue but have reflected on it and now understand why Landis chose to end the series this way. We see Clark fully embody Superman and fight to save the human race. There are some really great fight scenes in this issue! We are left with Lois and Clark asking the quintessential question...What now? 4/5
Overall a solid mini-series and I hope Landis will continue to give us stories we didn't know we wanted, but we need.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a book you need to read. In a world where we are still fighting for diverse YA characters, Simon hits it out of the park.
As a side note, don't you think everyone should have to come out? Why is straight the default?Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it should be this big awkward thing...
It's clear that Albertalli has vetted her story with the audience because she really gets it right. Simon is the ultimate teenager facing challenges that all teens face - communication with parents, navigating peer and romantic relationships, and finding his identity within the universe, which also consists of the choice of when to let tell his friends and family that he is gay.
Like the way you can memorize someone's gestures but never know their thoughts. And the feeling that people are like houses with vast rooms and tiny windows.
Delving into his inner thoughts with an unknown (but also gay) peer, we see Simon discover parts of himself that he hadn't really considered, like how he doesn't always know deeply what's going on with his friends. His emails back and forth are heartwarming!
Recommend this for fans of contemporary who want diverse, deep characters!
As a side note, don't you think everyone should have to come out? Why is straight the default?Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it should be this big awkward thing...
It's clear that Albertalli has vetted her story with the audience because she really gets it right. Simon is the ultimate teenager facing challenges that all teens face - communication with parents, navigating peer and romantic relationships, and finding his identity within the universe, which also consists of the choice of when to let tell his friends and family that he is gay.
Like the way you can memorize someone's gestures but never know their thoughts. And the feeling that people are like houses with vast rooms and tiny windows.
Delving into his inner thoughts with an unknown (but also gay) peer, we see Simon discover parts of himself that he hadn't really considered, like how he doesn't always know deeply what's going on with his friends. His emails back and forth are heartwarming!
Recommend this for fans of contemporary who want diverse, deep characters!
I'm THAT person. The seemingly one person who gives Anna a 3 star review.
I don't know, guys. I tried to assess if I had genre burnout (nope). Maybe I needed to read something different and take a break (didn't work). So either in broken or the story wasn't for me.
I liked all of the characters. The charm of Americans in Paris wasn't lost on me. But it was predictable. I found Anna to be a little obsessive and crazy at times. The ending was a little forced. Sigh.
I don't know, guys. I tried to assess if I had genre burnout (nope). Maybe I needed to read something different and take a break (didn't work). So either in broken or the story wasn't for me.
I liked all of the characters. The charm of Americans in Paris wasn't lost on me. But it was predictable. I found Anna to be a little obsessive and crazy at times. The ending was a little forced. Sigh.