Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park.
A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...
But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?
Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

MY TAKE:
I wasn't a fan of Eleanor & Park, but I liked the description of this book so much that I thought I should go ahead and read it anyway.

In Fangirl, Cath is a freshman who is also an extremely popular fanfiction writer. While things are going mostly okay in terms of her fanfiction, she's having trouble coping with her final project for her favorite class. She's got her father and her twin to worry about too.

I'm glad I read this book. I liked that the story was more about Cath's family relationships and her writing and obsession with a fictional world, and that the romance wasn't the biggest part of the story. It helped me connect with Cath and sympathize with her. She actually reminded me a few times of one author whom I follow on Twitter.

Anyway, I felt bad about the troubles that Cath and her family go through, but I enjoyed seeing how they were able to overcome it in realistic and non-melodramatic ways.

I also used to write fanfiction myself, back in the day, so I could relate to pretty much all the things that Cath had to say about that. (I understand, of course, that Simon and Baz are obviously based on Harry and Draco, and while I love Harry Potter, I was never a fan of that ship. I prefer Harry/Hermione.) I do agree with her that it's easier to just manipulate characters in a world that already exists, but I also think it's fun to create your own world. Mostly because everything you write automatically becomes canon.

I think the biggest reason why this was a four-star book for me and not a five-star one was Levi. Specifically, his reaction after Cath sort of decides that she's willing to give him another chance. As I'm writing this, I get that maybe it's just to show that Levi is clueless, but as I was reading it, it really irritated me and made Levi come across to me as arrogant and insincere. Too bad, because up until that point, I actually kinda liked him. He was still a nice guy later on, but at that point, I just couldn't get over that scene, and that was that for me when it came to Levi.

THE GOOD:

1. It's not all romance.
2. The family and roommate dynamics were interesting to read.
3. It's a fun look at college life. 

THE BAD:

1. About halfway through the book, I started skipping the longer excerpts from Cath's fanfiction. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

“Sometimes writing is running downhill, your fingers jerking behind you on the keyboard the way your legs do when they can’t quite keep up with gravity.”  

READ IT IF:

1. You're a fan of Harry/Draco.
2. You've always wanted to be a writer.
3. You love reading or writing fanfiction. 

RATING:


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Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

You know when you see a gorgeous boy on the street and you say to your friend, "Look at him!" and then your friend makes a face like, ugly? We all have such totally varied tastes that someone is going to look at you and think, yum-yum dee-lish, no matter what you think you look like.          

..

Review: Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

Once, only her own life hung in the balance…
When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. She survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia.
Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek.
Suddenly, though, dissent is rising. And Valek’s job—and his life—are in danger.
As Yelena tries to uncover her enemies, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked.And now she must find a way to keep not only herself but all that she holds dear alive.
A CHRONICLES OF IXIA NOVEL
‘A compelling new fantasy series’ – Rhianna Pratchett, SFX on Poison Study

MY TAKE:
I loved the Study books but I had forgotten how much until I read this one.

In Shadow Study, Yelena is now a liaison between Ixia and Sitia. However, her magic suddenly disappears and now she must find a way to get it back. It's not going to be easy, though. The Commander is plotting something, and assassins and old and new enemies are coming after Yelena.

Early on, I had a hunch as to why Yelena's powers were blocked, and based on that ending, I think my hunch was correct. That aside, there were still plenty of surprises for me in this book.

For example, there were several parts of the Commander's intricate plan that I didn't expect. It felt a bit like I was reading the Study series again and trying to decide if the Commander was a villain or a good guy. The Commander is Machiavellian, and while I understand where he's coming from, that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Majority of the book is spent setting the scene for the rest of the series. Yelena and Valek are mostly apart, and have different missions, but they end up crossing paths later in the book. This meant, of course, that I spent a good portion of the book wishing that they'd meet up already. I hope they get more time together in the next book, and I'm really curious to see how Yelena and Valek will handle things, given that ending.

THE GOOD:

1. The plot twists concerning the Commander's plans are quite brilliant.
2. We get glimpses of Valek's past.
3. That was certainly an interesting development in Yelena and Valek's relationship.  

THE BAD:

1. Some fans may wish for more Yelena and Valek moments. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Valek had learned the best way to distribute information was to classify it as secret. 

READ IT IF:

1. You loved the Study series.
2. You like complex characters.
3. You like strong heroines. 

RATING:


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Review: Curse of the Arctic Star (Nancy Drew Diaries #1) by Carolyn Keene

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

Nancy and her friends must navigate a cruise ship crisis in the first book of the Nancy Drew Diaries, a fresh approach to a classic series.
Nancy, Bess, and George are cruising dangerous waters on a tour of Alaska. Becca Wright, an old friend of Nancy's, is the Assistant Cruise Director of the Arctic Star, a posh new ship. But Becca needs Nancy's help when strange things keep happening aboard the opulent ocean liner: The swimming pool becomes a floating grave; a famous passenger is threatened; and even the seemingly innocent mini-golf course becomes a perilous playground. With the majestic and mysterious Alaskan scenery as a backdrop, Nancy and company have to find out who's trying to sabotage the maiden voyage and why.

MY TAKE:
I was a Nancy Drew fan when I was a child, so this book certainly piqued my interest.

In Curse of the Arctic Star, Nancy is asked by an old friend to help get to the bottom of the mysterious events happening on the Arctic Star.

I rather enjoyed this story. I mean, it was set in a cruise ship, so that in itself gets bonus points from me. I also liked the mystery itself. I had a suspicion that proved correct, but there were a couple of red herrings that did make me think that the solution might not be all that straightforward.

The thing that I found the most surprising about this book, however, is how while the main mystery seems solved, there were still some unanswered questions. Basically, the story continues in the next book. I'm so used to stand-alone mysteries, that this one felt a little strange to me. You can bet, I'll read the next book, though.

THE GOOD:

1. It's a fun mystery.
2. There are plenty of believable red herrings.
3. The series looks promising.

THE BAD:

1. Some people may not like that there are questions that won't be answered until the next book.

READ IT IF:

1. You're a Nancy Drew fan.
2. You like mysteries.
3. You are looking for a fun new mystery series to read.

RATING:


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Review: The Shore Road Mystery (Hardy Boys #6) by Franklin W. Dixon

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

The Hardy boys agree to help a friend and his father find a family treasure. When the friends disappear, the sleuths find themselves faced with two mysteries.

MY TAKE:
It's kinda funny, but even though this book was action-packed, I found my attention drifting several times.

In The Shore Road Mystery, the Hardy boys try to solve two mysteries: car thefts and a friend's family mystery.

The thing I enjoy about reading old mystery stories like this one is how they hark back to a simpler time. Had this story happened today, the Hardy boys probably wouldn't have even needed to help out with the car theft mystery at all. It really makes you appreciate the modern technologies we have now.

The bad guys here were pretty formidable and dangerous. I actually felt bad for the Hardy boys and their friends. It's a good thing they could hold their own.

As for the family mystery, I actually found that one to be particularly interesting even though it's not as exciting as the car theft mystery. The conclusion to the family mystery was rather too convenient for my liking, though.

THE GOOD:

1. The bad guys are really bad and dangerous people.
2. The boys and their friends are tough.
3. It's action-packed. 

THE BAD:

1. Some parts were predictable. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like old-school mysteries.
2. You are a fan of the Hardy boys.
3. You like action movies. 

RATING:


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Review: Pippa Morgan's Diary by Annie Kelsey

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Sometimes a little white lie can land you in a whole lot of trouble…
Pippa’s new BFF Catie Brown is perfect. So perfect, that Pippa tells her a teeny tiny lie—that she once auditioned for Voice Factor—to impress her. And it works. It works so well, in fact, that Catie enters Pippa into the school talent show.
The only problem? Pippa can’t sing. Not at all. In fact, her singing is so bad it scares the neighbors. But if she doesn’t participate in the talent show, Catie will know she lied. But if she does participate, the whole school will find out what a horrible singer she is...including Catie!
It’s up to Pippa to put an end to this pesky problem!

MY TAKE:
I love books in diary format, so I just had to read this one.

In Pippa Morgan's Diary, Pippa's best friend moved away, and while trying to get Catie Brown's attention, Pippa mentions that she auditioned for Voice Factor, even though it's not true. Catie is impressed, and now Pippa can't take it back. What happens when the truth comes out?

This is a quick read, although I think part of the reason why I finished it so quickly was because I was having fun. It deals with issues like making new friends, lying to get attention, and dealing with parents' divorce; issues which a lot of kids can relate to. Instead of going the more dramatic road, though, the book was pretty lighthearted. It actually made me think of the movies I see on Fox Family Movies. Pippa realized her mistake and she dealt with the consequences, but ultimately it was a happy ending for everyone.

Pippa is a relatable character, and I liked her a lot. She's got a big imagination and she's fun-loving. I loved the other characters too, especially the parents. Pippa's father seems like a fun dad, and it seems like Pippa's parents's divorce went okay and her parents' relationship is doing good because Pippa seems fine with the way things turned out.

As for the overall look, I liked it a lot. Pippa's handwriting is nice and neat, and her drawings are simple and cute. It seems like a good match for her personality.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. Pippa and the other characters are likable.
2. It's a quick, fun read with a good message.
3. The drawings and the handwriting are nice to look at.

THE BAD:

1. Some may feel like it's a little bit short. 

READ IT IF:

1. Your child likes books that are written in diary format. 
2. Your child likes funny books.
3. Your child's best friend moved away.

RATING:


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Review: Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

In this Chinese American retelling of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," a careless Goldy Luck wreaks havoc on the home of a family of panda bears. She eats up the littlest panda's rice porridge, breaks his rocking chair, and rumples all the blankets on his futon. When Goldy takes responsibility for her actions, she makes a new friend (and a whole plate of turnip cakes!) just in time for Chinese New Year.

MY TAKE:
I am fond of fairy tale re-imaginings, and this one was a nice modern update on the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

In Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas, Goldy Luck is told by her mom to go over to the Chans' (the pandas) house and bring them some turnip cakes. As she ventures inside their house, she unintentionally drops the turnip cakes, and the story begins.

I thought this was a pretty clever idea. The basics of it are the same, but there are a few tweaks here and there to modernize the story and fit it into the Chinese New Year story line. For example, instead of bears, Goldy Luck visits pandas. Also, instead of porridge, the bears have congee. The chairs in the story are also the type you are likely to see in homes these days.

I also enjoyed the Chinese New Year-related activities mentioned in the story. For kids and adult readers who don't know much about Chinese New Year, the author's note includes some information about it, as well the Chinese zodiac. There's also a recipe for turnip cake, if you want to give it a try.

Overall, this was a very nice story with a positive lesson that kids can learn from.

Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. It's a more relatable version of the Goldilocks story.
2. There's plenty of information about Chinese New Year, as well as a recipe for turnip cake.
3. The illustrations are a good match to the story. 

THE BAD:

1. The illustration style may not appeal to everyone. 

READ IT IF:

1. Your child loves pandas.
2. You want your child to learn more about other cultures.
3. You like fairy tale re-tellings. 

RATING:


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