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samantha_randolph
Combine angry and hurt girls + diversity + Japan setting (present and historical) + time travel + everything awesome, and you get the incredible A DARKLY BEATING HEART. From the first page, this gritty and dark novel consumes you, and it doesn’t stop until the last page (and if you’re me, you’re still going to be thinking about it months after).
There are few things I love more than a story that isn’t afraid to get intense, specifically when talking about the protagonist. Reiko’s journey is incredible, full of self discovery, pain, and finding hope. She starts the book suicidal, eager for vengeance, and eventually, obsessive about Miyu’s life. She goes through a lot before she reaches where she needs to be, and her path will make you frustrated, leave you in tears, give you a few laughs, more than a few swoons, and overall, make you want to flip back to page one and follow her journey again.
The writing is lush and brilliant, capturing modern day Japan and historical Japan wonderfully (and 10/10 will make you want to travel). The imagery is especially solid, and the visual descriptions paint a clear picture. This was my first Lindsay Smith novel, but I am absolutely going to go back and read her other books because of this incredible writing.
Final Verdict:
Evocative, powerful, and simply magnificent, Reiko and her story will tear into your heart and stay there for a long time.
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/10/review-darkly-beating-heart-lindsay-smith/
There are few things I love more than a story that isn’t afraid to get intense, specifically when talking about the protagonist. Reiko’s journey is incredible, full of self discovery, pain, and finding hope. She starts the book suicidal, eager for vengeance, and eventually, obsessive about Miyu’s life. She goes through a lot before she reaches where she needs to be, and her path will make you frustrated, leave you in tears, give you a few laughs, more than a few swoons, and overall, make you want to flip back to page one and follow her journey again.
The writing is lush and brilliant, capturing modern day Japan and historical Japan wonderfully (and 10/10 will make you want to travel). The imagery is especially solid, and the visual descriptions paint a clear picture. This was my first Lindsay Smith novel, but I am absolutely going to go back and read her other books because of this incredible writing.
Final Verdict:
Evocative, powerful, and simply magnificent, Reiko and her story will tear into your heart and stay there for a long time.
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2016/10/review-darkly-beating-heart-lindsay-smith/
Emelina Flores is out for vengeance and justice. Her people, the Ruined, have been ceaselessly slaughtered, and her sister, the one set to one day rule the Ruined, has been kidnapped. Though Emelina is considered a useless Ruined (not having any of the magic the others do), she will do whatever it takes to get her sister back and help her people. Her plan involves pretending to be Princess Mary, the future wife of the enemy kingdom’s prince. It is her job to set everything up for the ambush, but as she gets to know the prince, far different than what she imagined, she will find herself questioning her role and her mission.
Amy Tintera’s RUINED features of my all-time favorite protagonists, Em. I am always on the lookout for more protagonists who aren’t very nice, whose motives are steeped in moral ambiguity, and Em is exactly that. At the beginning of the novel, she is furious and bold, driven by grief, injustice, and a lot of anger. She is layered and fierce, and her pain is almost tangible. Her growth is simply stunning, especially as she learns to see kindness once again.
Between Em’s (and the Ruined’s) quest for revenge and the enemy kingdom’s horrifying ethics, there is a lethal edge to the story that will make readers clutch the book until their fingers cramp from anxiously trying to read as quickly as possible. While the story (thankfully) doesn’t go near any Game of Thrones level of death, it’s also not afraid to kill off characters with firm purpose, with more than one dealing a strong emotional blow. With the action and life-or-death scenarios, this is an excellent pick for anyone in a reading slump or for reluctant readers.
The slow burn romance begins a touch predictably, but instead of continuing to fall into a usual pattern, it takes some swift and rewarding turns. The moment of truth between Em and Cas, the crown prince, comes sooner than expected and doesn’t wait until book two to sort some things out. However, the twist-fueled ending will still leave a mountain of questions and an intense desire for the sequel.
RUINED is a must-read for the year. The dangerous circumstances, the battles between blood, love, and justice, and the gripping intensity will, in the best way, leave the reader as the title indicates: ruined.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/19567-ruined
Amy Tintera’s RUINED features of my all-time favorite protagonists, Em. I am always on the lookout for more protagonists who aren’t very nice, whose motives are steeped in moral ambiguity, and Em is exactly that. At the beginning of the novel, she is furious and bold, driven by grief, injustice, and a lot of anger. She is layered and fierce, and her pain is almost tangible. Her growth is simply stunning, especially as she learns to see kindness once again.
Between Em’s (and the Ruined’s) quest for revenge and the enemy kingdom’s horrifying ethics, there is a lethal edge to the story that will make readers clutch the book until their fingers cramp from anxiously trying to read as quickly as possible. While the story (thankfully) doesn’t go near any Game of Thrones level of death, it’s also not afraid to kill off characters with firm purpose, with more than one dealing a strong emotional blow. With the action and life-or-death scenarios, this is an excellent pick for anyone in a reading slump or for reluctant readers.
The slow burn romance begins a touch predictably, but instead of continuing to fall into a usual pattern, it takes some swift and rewarding turns. The moment of truth between Em and Cas, the crown prince, comes sooner than expected and doesn’t wait until book two to sort some things out. However, the twist-fueled ending will still leave a mountain of questions and an intense desire for the sequel.
RUINED is a must-read for the year. The dangerous circumstances, the battles between blood, love, and justice, and the gripping intensity will, in the best way, leave the reader as the title indicates: ruined.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/19567-ruined
"Ivy Westfall should be happy as she is about to get married. However, in the post-nuclear-war United States, marriages are arranged, typically between people who haven't met before. Luckily for Ivy, she doesn't have to like her new husband, Bishop. She just has to kill him to bring her family back to power. When Bishop isn't at all like she expected, she will discover that it may be time to make her own decisions....even though that may take her own life in the process." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=50055
"Lainey Mitchell, stunning soccer star, is thrilled to spend a summer with her hot, long-term boyfriend, Jason. When he randomly decides to break up with her (in her own parents' coffee shop), her plans go out the window. Now, she's heartbroken and mad and wants him back more than anything. When Lainey and her best friend, Bianca, find a copy of The Art of War, Lainey knows she has found the key to getting Jason, which includes pretending to date kitchen cook, Micah. As Lainey and Micah fake dates, she realizes that getting Jason back might not be so important if it means not getting to spend time with Micah anymore." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=43759
3.5/5
When Catrina and her family move to get better treatment for her sister, Maya, she isn’t too happy. Cat doesn’t want to leave her friends and home, but their move is necessary. In their new town, Bahía de la Luna, Cat and Maya go exploring and find a neighbor who tells them about ghosts. Maya is immediately interested and wants to meet one, but Cat doesn’t want to be a part of it. As Cat navigates through her fear, she must figure out what it means to love fully, adjust to new situations, and be honest with herself and others.
Raina Telgemeier’s GHOSTS introduces a moving tale of sisters. Cat and Maya have a loving, though often strained, relationship, which is challenged in a new way when the family moves to a new place. Maya has cystic fibrosis, and Telgemeier includes several scenes of Maya having treatments and some of the day-to-day lifestyles those with this illness have. Maya is not defined only by her illness, however. It is part of her, a part that is purposefully shown, just as her energetic personality, love for her family, and enthusiasm for adventure are. Cat, who does not have cystic fibrosis, worries for her sister frequently, and it is this worry that leads to Cat’s fears, often causing a rift between her and her sister.
They have ups and downs in their relationship as most siblings do, but under it all is a deep love and respect for each other. Both take to their new environment differently. I especially enjoy Cat’s hesitancy, even all out refusal, towards the change. Moves that involve new schools and distance from friends can be particularly difficult, and Cat feels this. We see her anger and frustration, but we also see her slowly open up to her neighbors and her town, as she learns that a little kindness and openness can go a long way.
However, I would encourage people to read the following discussions about the representation of the Indigenous ghosts and the use of the Day of the Dead in GHOSTS: American Indians in Children’s Literature’s review (https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2016/09/not-recommended-ghosts-by-raina.html) and Reading While White’s post (http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2016/09/on-ghosts-and-magic-of-day-of-dead.html). While there are several parts of this graphic novel to love, that does not mean it is without flaw and error, and potential readers should be sure to be aware of this beforehand.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/20278-ghosts
When Catrina and her family move to get better treatment for her sister, Maya, she isn’t too happy. Cat doesn’t want to leave her friends and home, but their move is necessary. In their new town, Bahía de la Luna, Cat and Maya go exploring and find a neighbor who tells them about ghosts. Maya is immediately interested and wants to meet one, but Cat doesn’t want to be a part of it. As Cat navigates through her fear, she must figure out what it means to love fully, adjust to new situations, and be honest with herself and others.
Raina Telgemeier’s GHOSTS introduces a moving tale of sisters. Cat and Maya have a loving, though often strained, relationship, which is challenged in a new way when the family moves to a new place. Maya has cystic fibrosis, and Telgemeier includes several scenes of Maya having treatments and some of the day-to-day lifestyles those with this illness have. Maya is not defined only by her illness, however. It is part of her, a part that is purposefully shown, just as her energetic personality, love for her family, and enthusiasm for adventure are. Cat, who does not have cystic fibrosis, worries for her sister frequently, and it is this worry that leads to Cat’s fears, often causing a rift between her and her sister.
They have ups and downs in their relationship as most siblings do, but under it all is a deep love and respect for each other. Both take to their new environment differently. I especially enjoy Cat’s hesitancy, even all out refusal, towards the change. Moves that involve new schools and distance from friends can be particularly difficult, and Cat feels this. We see her anger and frustration, but we also see her slowly open up to her neighbors and her town, as she learns that a little kindness and openness can go a long way.
However, I would encourage people to read the following discussions about the representation of the Indigenous ghosts and the use of the Day of the Dead in GHOSTS: American Indians in Children’s Literature’s review (https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2016/09/not-recommended-ghosts-by-raina.html) and Reading While White’s post (http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2016/09/on-ghosts-and-magic-of-day-of-dead.html). While there are several parts of this graphic novel to love, that does not mean it is without flaw and error, and potential readers should be sure to be aware of this beforehand.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/20278-ghosts
Grimelda is a messy witch who loves her home as it is. However, messiness sometimes makes it hard to find things, like the pickle root she needs for a pickle pie. Armed with rhymes and a good eye, Grimelda does her best to sort through her mess.
What I Loved:
The rhymes in GRIMELDA: THE VERY MESSY WITCH are adorable and are sure to delight young readers. While pictures books involving witches are usually favored for Halloween, this cute story focuses on one simple day for a witch, making it fun for any time of the year.
With so much detail in the illustrations, there’s plenty of unique items to pick out and watch for. However, the animals in the background, ranging from bats to cats and more, are adorable and add extra hilarity. We also see a plethora of witchy ingredients as Grimeleda searches for the pickle root, which create the perfect supernatural tone.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While there is much to enjoy in this picture book, Grimelda’s facial expressions are often awkward and stand out from the rest of the illustrations. This isn’t the case every time, but enough to be a distraction.
Final Verdict:
Though there are lacking elements to the story, GRIMELDA: THE VERY MESSY WITCH is ultimately an adorable story about finding your own way of living that makes you happy.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/20604-grimelda-the-very-messy-witch-2
What I Loved:
The rhymes in GRIMELDA: THE VERY MESSY WITCH are adorable and are sure to delight young readers. While pictures books involving witches are usually favored for Halloween, this cute story focuses on one simple day for a witch, making it fun for any time of the year.
With so much detail in the illustrations, there’s plenty of unique items to pick out and watch for. However, the animals in the background, ranging from bats to cats and more, are adorable and add extra hilarity. We also see a plethora of witchy ingredients as Grimeleda searches for the pickle root, which create the perfect supernatural tone.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While there is much to enjoy in this picture book, Grimelda’s facial expressions are often awkward and stand out from the rest of the illustrations. This isn’t the case every time, but enough to be a distraction.
Final Verdict:
Though there are lacking elements to the story, GRIMELDA: THE VERY MESSY WITCH is ultimately an adorable story about finding your own way of living that makes you happy.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/20604-grimelda-the-very-messy-witch-2