I was surprised about how much I enjoyed this book, although since it's by Neal Shusterman, I shouldn't be surprised at all about how amazing it was. As always, it's the characters that make a book come alive for me, more than the plot. The concept of the Heartland War (with prolife vs prochoice armies) is conceivable, but the solution of retroactive abortions was far-fetched to me. Although this plot wasn't exactly solid, the characters were and their reactions to the story they are thrown into are so realistic that it makes up for any other failings in the conception of this story.

I can't wait to read the other three books in this series. I think Shusterman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

Absolutely everyone needs to read this book. The characters and the emotion in this book are among the best I’ve ever read.

This book was a promising story ruined by terrible pacing and strange metaphors that removed me from the story instead of enhancing the tale. The action of the book did not happen until almost 70% through. I wish this had started about 30% of the way through and that the author had spent more time describing the Hinterland in the same detail she described Alice's life "before" and the weird roadtrip there. I think I was also supposed to think there was some sort of connection between Alice and her schoolmate / road trip companion Finch, but I didn't buy it at all. The bare bones of this tale are good, but I think I would have liked this book better if I just read some sort of summary up until Alice actually enters the Hinterland. I feel like this book tried to be too many genres at once and wound up mostly contemporary when it tried to be more of a mystery and fairy tale.

I think this book works well as a standalone and don't see the need for any others in what looks like might become a series. I might read more from this author in the future, but I'd have to really think about it before picking up any more in this story line, if it does become a series.

This was my first year to teach Romeo and Juliet. I had forgotten (or elsewise not truly noticed) how vulgar this play is when I first read it, some twelve years or more ago. My students unfortunately noticed! At least it kept them engaged.
Despite the opening rape "jokes" and genitalia humor (which must have been to shock the audience into silence) there are some absolutely stunning lines in this play. Here are some of my not-so-famous favorites.

"Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops."

"I must hear from thee every day in the hour,
For in a minute there are many days."


This truly makes me want to read through Shakespeare's other plays. Perhaps I will read some this summer!