Ahh, the final book I read in 2009. Actually, I didn't read this; I listened to the audiobook, but whatever. Whoever read this book did an excellent jAhh, the final book I read in 2009. Actually, I didn't read this; I listened to the audiobook, but whatever. Whoever read this book did an excellent job reading, with good voices and an easy to understand pace and tone. I haven't listened to a lot of audiobooks, but this was definitely a good one.
The book is narrated by a dog named Chet whose owner, Bernie, is a private detective. They get hired to investigate the disappearance of a teen girl and end up going all over the place trying to track her down, meeting strange characters in the process - bikers, drug dealers, reporters, and relatives. The mystery itself was the main plot but at times seemed kind of secondary to the dog's point of view and narration. In fact, because the plot unfolds from Chet's point of view, the reader learns who's behind the disappearance early on in the book (though the "why" isn't explained until later). The best part of this book, however, is not the plot but the way Chet narrates; it sounds exactly the way I imagine a dog thinks, with him discussing about smells or relaying what the people around him are talking about... and then all of a sudden, Chet loses track of what he was saying because a bird or another dog or a stray piece of food distracts him. The writer seemed very in tune with dog-speak, and there were a number of laugh out loud parts in the book.
I would easily recommend this book to dog lovers because it really was a lot of fun and made you believe a dog was relaying the story. Although a few parts I could have done without and I think the author repeated some lines too many times to continue being funny (such as "Or have I mentioned that already?" - cute the first handful of times but repeated way too many times more), the book overall was entertaining and engaging. ...more
Probably 4.5 stars. Sure, this wasn't Serious Literature, but it was entertaining and kept me interested for the whole short book, which is just shy oProbably 4.5 stars. Sure, this wasn't Serious Literature, but it was entertaining and kept me interested for the whole short book, which is just shy of 200 pages.
This is the tie-in novel to the TV show Castle, and everything in and about this book is the way it's been portrayed on the show. Nikki Heat, the lead detective in the story, is based on the TV character of Beckett, and Heat's sidekick, Rook, is a thinly veiled version of Castle; the other supporting characters are also closely tied to specific characters from the show, making it very visual to read (assuming you're a fan of the show... and if you're reading this, you probably are). And yes, the scene on page 105 that was mentioned on the show? It's in here.
The book opens with a bit of plodding language, with a body being discovered in NYC during a massive heat wave, and Heat trying to discover the identity of the killer. The action quickly picks up, and the writing got much smoother as the writer (or, really, whoever the ghostwriter is) appeared to get into a good flow.
The mystery itself was great, full of twists that kept me guessing the same way the TV show does, and the dialogue and action between the characters was fun and believable. It definitely seemed like the kind of book a writer trailing a detective would write, full of supposed insider information to get a more "realistic" look at how real detectives work. It's a quick read but lots of fun and extremely entertaining. If you're a fan of Castle, you'll love this. And if not... well, you should start watching Castle and become a fan!...more
4.5 stars. I think this author has done the best job of any of the authors writing books for the ten-part 39 Clues series. This book was awesome, and 4.5 stars. I think this author has done the best job of any of the authors writing books for the ten-part 39 Clues series. This book was awesome, and looking back at my reviews of the previous installments, I apparently thought Jude Watson's last book for this series was one of the best as well. I'd never heard of this author before, but the writing and pacing were solid and exciting; very well done.
In this book, Amy and Dan, still on a race around the world to find the "39 clues" that will make them the most powerful people in the world, start off in Australia, trying to follow clues that make little sense, all the while battling relatives also after the clues, who will stop at nothing to get their way. The backgrounds of some of their competitors (notably the Kabras and Irina Spasky) are revealed slowly but interestingly, in a way that both furthers the plot and draws you in to their lives. The stakes are higher than before, with the competitors growing ruthless and the lines between good and bad becoming increasingly blurred, Amy and Dan more unsure than ever who they can trust. Meanwhile, Amy is battling repressed memories that she'd kept hidden for years, and she feels like she can't tell these secrets to anyone, not even Dan, giving the book another level of intrigue, this time on a personal level.
At any rate, definitely an excellent book in the series and one that made me very excited to read the next one. I have no idea how the series will end or what exactly is the prize, but the blend of history and mystery is irresistible. I can just imagine kids reading and loving these books! Who wouldn't?...more
Danny is a kid who lives in an old caravan with his dad and helps out at his father's mechanic station here and there. They have a great relationship,Danny is a kid who lives in an old caravan with his dad and helps out at his father's mechanic station here and there. They have a great relationship, which is probably my favorite thing about this book, and Danny would rather spend time with his dad than anyone else in the world. One day, Danny discovers his father's deep, dark secret, and the next thing you know, they're off together, hatching a plan to get back at the mean and stingy Mr. Hazell, who has a number of pheasants on his land (I don't want to give more detail than that so as not to spoil the plot).
I wasn't as big of a fan of the plot of this book as I am of other Roald Dahl books, but there was still a lot to like. Besides the awesome relationship between father and son, there are (of course) some funny moments, and the writing is fantastic as usual. There's also a chapter where Danny's dad tells him a bedtime story about the BFG - the origins of the book The BFG Roald Dahl later wrote! That was very cool to see. However, there were also a number of parts where I felt like the story was going off track in a weird way, going into tangents or conveying nothing particularly related to the plot. Still, a good book overall....more
3.5 stars. Written by the co-author of The Last Lecture, which is why I think this book drew my attention in the first place, The Girls from Ames chro3.5 stars. Written by the co-author of The Last Lecture, which is why I think this book drew my attention in the first place, The Girls from Ames chronicles the friendship between eleven girls from (where else?) Ames, Iowa, from their childhood to adulthood today. The story is definitely inspiring, hearing how these women have managed to create and maintain such strong bonds of friendship. There are stories from when they were young, stories from when they were in high school, then college, and then as adults, when they are career- or family-focused. The author intersperses the narrative about their friendship with some studies and statistics about friendships in general, mentioning how friendships between women that have lasted until they're 40 years old are statistically likely to last for the rest of their lives.
Since the book is about eleven women whose friendship has lasted for multiple decades, there is obviously not enough room to tell the story of every little thing they went through together, and so the focus is on particularly major events in their lives. Some of the stories were not the most flattering, showing the darker (and less appealing) side of girls that can sometimes crop up (both in their circle of friendship and with outsiders who resented their clique); however, the majority of the stories were about instances where they helped each other through tough situations, such as illness, divorce, and death. It was really nice to read about how their bonds with each other helped and the ways they offered support.
Now, for my complaints. I was glad that the author included a "cheat sheet" near the beginning, with the girls' names, photos, and a short bio, helping me keep them straight. There were eleven main characters - not including the girls' family members - and it took me a while to remember who each one was. I also felt like some of the girls were given a lot more page time, as many of the stories focused on their lives, while a few of the girls were barely mentioned. After finishing the book, I feel like I have a good sense of the lives of maybe half the Ames girls; the others remain a mystery, despite their inclusion in the tale overall. Finally, although I enjoyed reading the book, it felt like something was lacking, though I can't put my finger on it. The story of friendship was nice, but I'm not sure the book overall provided a reason for the importance of focusing on these particular women. Maybe I just wanted to see something more, like there was room to delve deeper that was ignored. I'm glad I read this, and I certainly enjoyed it, but it's not one that I'd reread. ...more
I imagine that the pre-tween set will enjoy this book, since it has a cute premise and a nice message despite its lack of depth. Elsa is a seventh graI imagine that the pre-tween set will enjoy this book, since it has a cute premise and a nice message despite its lack of depth. Elsa is a seventh grader who's granted the power of being able to turn back time by 10 seconds, long enough to re-do a particular moment and make the impression she wants. Since she's just moved to a new school, she wants to fit in and be liked by the popular crowd, so she tailors her personality to their liking and, if they don't like something she's said or done, she quickly re-does it in a different way. Fun.
Even though I thought the idea was cute, the story really lacks much depth past that. The characters are pretty shallow (of course, the book isn't very long) and while it touched on interesting issues, it didn't go much further than that. Still, I think the underlying theme of the book of how you can be true to yourself is a nice one. ...more
This memoir is pitched as "inspirational," and while I don't exactly agree with that description, I do think that the sentiments in this book were uplThis memoir is pitched as "inspirational," and while I don't exactly agree with that description, I do think that the sentiments in this book were uplifting. Obviously, Elizabeth Edwards has gone through a lot - her son's death, her cancer diagnosis, her husband's affair - and she details how she coped with these things in this book. It was definitely not a tell-all book, with no sordid details of anything, but she did a wonderful job telling her story and conveying her emotional journey through all the problems.
To round out her own journey through bad experiences, the author also shares stories from the lives of others. One of the most memorable stories is from when she lived in Japan as a child and took dance lessons from a Japanese woman whose dreams of being a geisha were shattered after she was disfigured in the bomb blast at Hiroshima; apparently, the woman's continually pleasant and polite demeanor, even after having suffered so much, was memorable enough that even decades later, she feels inspired by that response to tragedy.
There are also good parts about adjusting to life and how memories can be deceiving. This is a great quote I got from the book: Nothing of any size or duration is as magical as our memory of it. How true! And isn't it great that we have such magical memories?
Overall, I thought this was a nice book. Certainly some parts were better than others, and there were a few too many long quotes for my liking, but it was still a good read. It wasn't political (thank goodness) and simply focused on the author's life and how she got through (and continues to get through) the tougher moments in life. I imagine many people could relate to the messages in here....more
Wow. This book was fascinating, gripping, and shocking. I think everyone old enough to remember the shooting at Columbine High School can recall the sWow. This book was fascinating, gripping, and shocking. I think everyone old enough to remember the shooting at Columbine High School can recall the stories immediately told afterward about the killers motives, etc. Now, a decade later, this book recreates the few days leading up to the massacre, the shooting itself, and the aftermath for many of the survivors and the town, overturning a lot of myths that popped up about the event and continued for years. The narrative contains so much attention to detail, describing people, journals, videos, actions, and events. There really was so much evidence left behind, and it's summarized well. All the time and research the author put into writing this book shows.
Though I found this book difficult to put down, it was also difficult to read because of the enormously depressing subject matter. It's hard and sad to think that the events in it are all real, and it leaves you angry that opportunities to potentially stop this were missed and furious with some members of the law enforcement there, as well as angry at the killers' parents for their continued silence and apparent lack of comprehension.
Despite the book's overall heaviness, there are also uplifting parts to be found in some of the survivors' tales: an eagerness to move forward and the continued belief that the majority of people are inherently good. It was a nice contrast to the darker facts that filled most of the pages. The next book I read will definitely have to be a happy, positive one overall to temper the emotions from this book!...more
Despite its predictable plot, I thought this book was pretty good overall. After the sudden death of her parents, Emily goes to live with her aunt in Despite its predictable plot, I thought this book was pretty good overall. After the sudden death of her parents, Emily goes to live with her aunt in New York, where she tries to figure out what her mother meant in the note she hastily left behind, begging Emily for forgiveness. There's a lot of talk about secrets and fitting in, Emily sees bits of herself in others, and she finds herself inspired by others. Though the underlying themes of this book didn't go as deep as they could have, it was interesting to see how Emily's new life unfolded and this was a quick read.
Most of the characters were likable enough, especially Emily's new girlfriends; a few others weren't fleshed out enough, but that's how it goes sometimes. I especially enjoyed the friendships that grew during the story, as the author did a good job showing what made these people likable and how Emily became good friends with them. The love story was a little predictable, although I can't complain because it was still cute.
Because the underlying themes in this book were not fully developed, it sometimes felt like the whole "lipstick apology" bit was only in the book to make its premise stand out from other competing books. After all, other than the (kinda predictable) mystery of what the mom was apologizing for, this book didn't really offer anything new or different from other books I've read. However, that said, the book was still quite enjoyable, especially after the first few chapters when it hit a nice flow. ...more
I am not sure quite what to say about this book other than I think the story is powerful and that this is a novel that high schoolers will soon (if noI am not sure quite what to say about this book other than I think the story is powerful and that this is a novel that high schoolers will soon (if not already) be reading as part of their English classes. Set in Germany during WWII, The Book Thief is narrated by Death and tells the story of a girl named Liesl who lives with a foster family, collects books, and tries to make sense of the world. It's told in a strange way, with the narrator occasionally informing the reader of what's yet to come and making short lists of things that relate to what is going on in the book.
It took a little while for me to get into the story, but once I did, it really took off. Though the book is over 500 pages long, it's easy to read and definitely sucked me in. There are terrible events (it is, after all WWII in Germany), the story of a Jew hiding in Liesl's family's basement, and all sorts of war-related horribleness, but there are also interludes of happiness and ways that Liesl and others make the best of the situation they've been thrust into.
The main message I got out of this book is about the power of words, how much harm and good they can do, and how words can influence and motivate people to act in certain ways. I think there were a lot of points raised in this book that would make for good discussions (hence my thought that students will eventually be required to read this). It's not the happiest book I've read - far from it, in fact - but definitely memorable and thought-provoking. ...more
Couldn't finish this book. I thought the plot was interesting enough, but the writing completely put me off. Isha is a typical Indian woman who has onCouldn't finish this book. I thought the plot was interesting enough, but the writing completely put me off. Isha is a typical Indian woman who has one daughter and is told that she's pregnant with another daughter. The doctor suggests abortion because girl babies are not very wanted in India, but Isha and her husband refuse. Soon after, Isha's husband is murdered and Isha wants to find out what happened to him, all the while trying to deal with her in-laws, who are angry about getting a second female grandchild from her.
The problem, for me, was that the dialogue was extremely clunky. Conversations happen not because they seem plausible or realistic but because that is how the characters fill the reader in on backstory. Furthermore, the mystery aspect of the story wasn't even a mystery because the killer and motive are revealed to the reader in a chapter right after the husband dies, so from there, the reader just has to wait for Isha to learn equally as much.
Anyway, I didn't finish it. I like reading books that have smooth writing, with conversations that don't make me stumble and think, "This was written just to educate me!" Maybe others could overlook these issues because I think it could be a decent book otherwise, but it just wasn't for me....more
A cute, fun read that is at times predictable but still not too cookie-cutter perfect. Tere is a shy high school senior who becomes a late night DJ niA cute, fun read that is at times predictable but still not too cookie-cutter perfect. Tere is a shy high school senior who becomes a late night DJ nicknamed Sweet T at her stepfather's popular radio station. Practically overnight, she becomes a hit, though no one knows Sweet Ts real identity. The station decides to run a songwriting contest where the winner goes to prom with Sweet T, and she grows increasingly nervous about this unveiling of her identity.
I liked the backdrop of a radio station and DJs being the setting for much of this plot, and Tere is quite likable, even if you can't relate to the painfully shy part of her personality. Her mom's overbearing, her schoolmates are unsure why she's so shy, and there are strange personalities who work for the radio station. I really enjoyed the fact that not all these plots were wrapped up in such a smooth way that made it unbelievable; people don't, after all, usually suddenly morph into something perfect. I also like how it was shown, through certain characters, that a person does not need to be perfect or even classy to be decent overall.
The friendships were developed nicely, and the main character's love for music definitely came through strongly. I also thought that the way Tere grew was handled well, with her complete and utter shyness always present but growing less and less crippling as she was forced to step out of her shell and become Sweet T. Overall, a fun and sweet book....more
2.5 stars. This book was quite slow moving, and although I enjoyed parts of the story very much, it felt too vague and flimsy overall for me to fully 2.5 stars. This book was quite slow moving, and although I enjoyed parts of the story very much, it felt too vague and flimsy overall for me to fully enjoy it. The story follows a girl named Anna, whose mom supposedly dies in a car crash in 1962, when Anna is eight. On the news, there are all sorts of reports about spies, and Anna's brother begins to suspect that their mom did not die after all but instead was a spy and moved on to reinvent herself somewhere else.
I really liked the story about Anna and her brother trying to figure out pieces of their mom's past. They write down what they remember about their mom and figure out how to communicate in code if the need arises. I thought these scenes between the siblings were some of the strongest in the book - mainly because in these scenes, something happened.
In the rest of the book, not much occurred. The action jumped around from the past to the present without warning, making me all too often unsure about when the story was taking place. There were so many filmy scenes in which I think the author was trying to show how mundane life is, but these scenes didn't really relate to the main plot. Also, the beginning of the book - like, the first two chapters - were soo incredibly abstract and gave me nothing to hold on to that it took me quite some time to actually get into the story. Even then, I wasn't fully drawn in because there would be an interesting scene, followed by... nothing.
The problem for me, I think, is that the premise of the book was more interesting than the execution. The book is not a thriller, not a mystery, and not very gripping. I'm all for literary fiction, but this novel didn't feel like it was written to tell a story but to relay the lives of the members of this seemingly ordinary family. There were a few interesting threads woven into the story but these were too bogged down with unremarkable scenes to make the book very memorable....more
I read this book so many times growing up, and rereading it now as an adult did not disappoint. Everything that I loved about the book as a kid was stI read this book so many times growing up, and rereading it now as an adult did not disappoint. Everything that I loved about the book as a kid was still there, and it was just as magical. I was especially pleased by this because last year, I read the author's latest book, Test, and hated it, making me question whether Interstellar Pig was actually as good as I remembered.
Sixteen-year-old Barney is spending the summer with his parents at a beach house. Three people rent the house next door, and Barney is quickly drawn to them and into their role-playing game called Interstellar Pig, in which players travel across planets, fighting for control of The Piggy. It soon becomes apparent that these neighbors are actually searching for something at the beach... perhaps the actual Piggy.
This isn't violent or extraordinarily scary, but there's something very Twilight Zone-ish about the narration, which moves slowly but has this awesome creepy factor to it. Plus, there's the game of Interstellar Pig, which sounds like so much fun and so addicting. The action is not overstated and just moves along, drawing you into the story and into the game itself.
Definitely a quick read, as it's just shy of 200 pages, but it's awesome and one of those vividly memorable books. I'm so glad I re-found this book and reread it!...more
Although this book is fiction, I learned a lot about women's lives in Iran, and I think the author did an excellent job bringing some of this hopelessAlthough this book is fiction, I learned a lot about women's lives in Iran, and I think the author did an excellent job bringing some of this hopelessness and timidity to life on the pages.
Tami is an Iranian woman sent to America by her parents in the hope that she will find a husband, get married, and not have to return to Iran. Tami's sister and her husband live in America, and they try to help by bringing lots of potential suitors over to their house for Tami to screen. In her spare time, Tami takes an English class, where she makes friends, and also starts to fall for an American man who works at a nearby Starbucks.
The author did a great job showing how Tami attempts to blend in and how changing someone's mindset is not an overnight thing. It was frustrating but interesting to see how Tami reacted to certain situations, simply because she was unaware how things were done in America and only had the fear from her past in Iran. It was also frustrating to see all the pressure on her to marry pretty much anyone who was Persian and available, but it was also understandable. I liked the characters, although some of the minor characters did not have as full personalities as they could, and the love story was quite sweet.
My one complaint about this book is that the ending was both too quick and too slow - it took too long to get there, but wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking; I felt there should have been a little more at the end. I was also a little frustrated by Tami's inability to make choices for herself, although this behavior was understandable; going along with the idea to marry anyone is asking for trouble, but that's that. However, I did like the story a lot and had a hard time putting it down. The writing was very simple, but very enjoyable. ...more
This book is every bit as funny and cute as the cover makes it seem. Cody is a thirteen year old kid who's spent his life traveling the world with hisThis book is every bit as funny and cute as the cover makes it seem. Cody is a thirteen year old kid who's spent his life traveling the world with his CIA agent father. Now, with bad guys on the hunt for his dad, Cody's been sent to his aunt's house to live the life of a normal teen and stay safe while his dad tracks down the bad guys. Cody has never been around large groups of his peers, nor has he lived a normal life, so he has no idea how to act or how to even get along at school.
There were a lot of very funny scenes in this book, some having to do with Cody's attempts to fit in and others having to do with the insanity of junior high kids in general. I imagine that most people who have ever been through junior high could relate to a lot of it. Cody is likable and sympathetic, and I was definitely drawn in to the story quickly. There was also a surprisingly amount of heart in this book, sweet as well as funny.
This reminded me a lot of Gordon Korman's book Schooled, as both dealt with non-typical junior high students having to blend in at school, but both were enjoyable in their own ways. I'd easily recommend this to others seeking a quick, amusing, and sweet read. ...more
Another cute book by Monica McInerney - actually, her first book, but it's the 3rd I've read. This one features Maura, an Australian chef and winemakeAnother cute book by Monica McInerney - actually, her first book, but it's the 3rd I've read. This one features Maura, an Australian chef and winemaker who goes to Ireland for four weeks on a tour to promote Australian food and wine. In Ireland, there are a series of misunderstandings and incidents that fluster Maura while she sells her wine, tries not to fall for a guy she meets, and learns about the Irish countryside and people. There were a lot of cute scenes and great tension between the characters. You don't have to be a wine drinker to enjoy this, as all the dialogue about wine is easy to understand, but it would probably increase your enjoyment because of the descriptions.
This is definitely a quick and easy read, and I would easily recommend it to people seeking a lighthearted, fun romance. The author does such a great job describing the food and the scenery, and it made me want to prepare and eat some gourmet meals of my own. Although a number of the twists/misunderstandings are easy to spot, the story was still fun and engaging, so I didn't mind it too much. I really liked the characters and loved how it revolved around Ireland and around food. ...more
The cover for this book is terrible, and the actual book isn't much better. Like so many others, I loved the author's first book, The Time Traveler's The cover for this book is terrible, and the actual book isn't much better. Like so many others, I loved the author's first book, The Time Traveler's Wife and eagerly anticipated the release of this. I don't want to compare the two books, since they are quite different and should each be judged on their own merit, but my love for her first book is what led me to buy her second book.. and my dislike of this book will not lead me to buy her next.
This is a book with more characters than a real plot, though both characters and plot are flimsy at best. Identical mirror-image twins Valentina and Julia inherit a London flat from their aunt, Elspeth, who's their mother's twin but who they had never met before. Valentina and Julia leave their home in Illinois and head off to England, where they begin living in the flat and meet all the people around them. There's Robert (Elspeth's lover and the twins' neighbor), Martin (a neighbor with OCD, whose wife has just left him), and there's also Elspeth, who's stuck inhabiting the flat as a ghost. The plot is basically just that, random scenes involving the twins and these other characters, plus tours of Highgate cemetery, which is famous and next door to their building. The plot also deals with the attachment that the twins have to one another and trying to uncover what secrets drove Elspeth and her sister (the twins' mom) to not see each other for 20 years.
Basically, the book isn't very riveting. It felt like scenes were thrown in the book for no real reason except to show what type of people the characters were, but since there was not much of a plot, it felt incredibly disjointed. The narration is weird, with it being told in 3rd person but everyone's unspoken thoughts mentioned after their dialogue (I guess this was supposed to show that what they meant wasn't being said, but it wasn't all that interesting), and the characters weren't all that likable, nor were they even believable at times. Dialogue for Valentina and Julia was peppered with "like"s and "you know"s, almost as if trying to give a feel for what 21 year olds should sound like, but it fell flat, almost forced. Having the book chalk full of so many characters with weird quirks made everyone seem like caricatures instead of real people. Yes, it's fiction, but I should still be able to believe that these people could be real!
As for the plot, I was interested in what the big rift between Elspeth and her twin was and why they'd been apart for so long. However, I felt like this mystery was dragged on for much too long - too much build up for an answer that was such a let down and actually pretty silly. Considering that this "mystery" wasn't even the main point of the book, that's saying something. The close relationship between Julia and Valentina, and Valentina's frustration with Julia's overbearing and bossy nature, was okay at first but got tiring after awhile. And Valentina's idea for how to deal with this was completely absurd, seriously ludicrous.
About 2/3 of the way through the book, when the ending was hinted at, I thought no, that couldn't possibly be the end because the suggestion was just so, so dumb. And then it played out and was just as terrible as it sounded, maybe even worse. The ending had to be the most ridiculous part of the book and made me roll my eyes more than once. I considered not finishing the book, but I decided that I'd made it that far already - plus, a few other loose ends hadn't been resolved. So I pressed on, though my interest level was low and getting lower by the page. I think I actually skimmed the last few pages; I don't remember (how sad is that?).
I am still in shock that this book was so incredibly disappointing. The pacing was slow, the characters lacking, and the plot tedious. It felt like the author tried to do too much but actually did way too little. There was no depth and no emotion. I give it 2 stars because there were small parts I enjoyed and because I apparently was interested enough to finish it, but I definitely would not recommend this book to others....more
Becca, a high school sophomore, is a bubbly girl who loves to talk about anything, anytime. She shares every little detail of her life and other livesBecca, a high school sophomore, is a bubbly girl who loves to talk about anything, anytime. She shares every little detail of her life and other lives with her friends, and it finally gets her into big trouble when her boyfriend breaks up with her for blabbing about his sloppy kisses to her friends. Becca decides that's the last time she'll overshare, so she stops talking all the time and instead begins anonymously blogging about her life, changing names and embellishing personalities to make people seem dorkier or hotter than they are in person.
I loved Becca. Although she's a talker, she's fun and bubbly. Her thoughts (as told by the narration) are hilarious, and I could just picture someone thinking like her. I also loved the way the friendships were portrayed, although the introduction to her friends at the beginning of the book was a bit on the cheesy side - something I didn't mind, since the rest of the book was so good. Becca's anger over the breakup and her subsequent crushing on another guy were completely understandable and entertaining to read about. And I thought the ending was very good - not sappy sweet, not unbelievably perfect, but good. Very fitting for the book, anyway. It made the book seem even more realistic to me.
I think this book would appeal more to younger teens because of Becca's age (15/16), but really anyone could enjoy it. Lots of laughs, lots of fun, cute story. I'll definitely pick up another book by Sarah Quigley....more
Avery is your typical teen boy - with superpowers. He's super strong, has the ability to fly, and yet hides these powers from the world, scared he'll Avery is your typical teen boy - with superpowers. He's super strong, has the ability to fly, and yet hides these powers from the world, scared he'll be studied by scientists if anyone finds out. As he soon discovers, he's not the only one with powers; there's a whole group of people who have some sort of superpowers, and they form a superpowered crime-fighting group, which soon turns into a group dedicated to fighting against a villain wanting to take them away and train them for her own purposes.
It's a fun story overall, and there were a number of scenes where I thought the narration (from Avery's point of view) was spot on. His first impressions of other characters are amusing to read, and I liked all the different powers that came into play in the course of the book.
There's a lot of action in this book - so much, in fact, that it feels like the constant actions scenes took up space that should have been used for character development. I finished feeling that I still didn't fully know the characters, and even though the plot was entertaining, not really knowing the characters cut into my enjoyment of the novel. ...more