The Girl Is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines

It’s 1942, and everything has changed so quickly for Iris Anderson. Her mother is gone, and her father has just returned from the war with a missing leg. They’ve moved to a new neighborhood for financial reasons, and Iris is finding it difficult to adjust to life on the Lower East Side. The only constant in her life has been Pop’s job as a private investigator, but even that is challenged as Pop finds it harder to keep up with the more physical demands of his job. All Iris wants to do is help out, but Pop isn’t really receptive to that idea. But when Pop takes a case involving a student at her new school, Iris realizes that she needs to take matters into her own hands. Soon, she’s lying to her friends, sneaking out at night, and cozying up to some different people at school. Her investigation will take to old and new neighborhoods and will draw connections between the unlikeliest of Iris’s acquaintances. But Iris can’t stop until she finds the truth—even if some horrible secrets close to home are dredged up in the process.

The Girl Is Murder is a simply fantastic mystery that whisks readers into the glamorous past of the World War II era. Haines has creates a wonderful heroine in Iris. Readers will be drawn to her spunk and fierce loyalty to her father even when Iris appears to be just a lonely girl in a scary new place. Iris is really the perfect protagonist for this story, with a great blend of girlishness and daring that allows readers to access both the investigation and the day-to-day struggles over friends and boys. I initially thought that his novel would merely focus on the historical mystery, but I was thrilled by the way Haines makes the mystery so much more personal for Iris. I did feel that the solution to the mystery was a little bit of a letdown after such a buildup of suspense, but I can’t deny that it was very realistic. Despite this, The Girl Is Murder is an utterly charming read with historical and detective flair. I know I can’t wait for Iris’s next adventure in The Girl Is Trouble.

The Girl Is Murder will definitely be enjoyed by fans of Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher and What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from publisher Macmillan

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Katarina Bishop comes from a family of world class thieves. Her parents and her Uncle Eddie are some of the most cunning criminals out there, but Kat is determined to leave behind the family business. At fifteen, as her last con, she scams her way into an elite boarding school, sure that she’ll no longer have to deal with the complications and politics of coming from a crime family. But turning her back for good on her past is much easier said than done, especially when she finds out that her father may now be on a dangerous mobster’s hit list for stealing his priceless art collection. It makes no difference that Kat’s father did not do that job; the mobster will go after him anyway—unless his art is returned. This leaves Kat with only one choice to save her father: track down the paintings and steal them back. With a ragtag teen crew and a rapidly approaching deadline, it’ll be a miracle if Kat can pull off her biggest heist yet unscathed.

I am a huge fan of Carter’s Gallagher Girls series and stories involving activities on the other side of the law, so I knew that I had to read Heist Society. As I expected, this novel is just full of espionage, carefully laid plans, and lots of sneaking around. This makes for a plot that is undoubtedly exciting and action packed, yet also well balanced with the politics and family life of elite crime. Carter also presents readers with a rather varied cast of characters whose little personality quirks liven up the story. I actually found Kat’s character an unusual protagonist for this story as she doesn’t initially seem like a girl who can lead a team in one of the trickiest heists ever attempted. When the story opens, Kat seems more like a girl who would do anything to be just normal, but gradually her sense of loyalty to her family force her to use her wits. Heist Society is a truly fun and enjoyable read, but if I had to pick between Carter’s series, I would honestly say that I still prefer the Gallagher Girls series, even if the Heist Society series is shaping up to be really good.

Heist Society will be enjoyed by fans of the Gallagher Girls series, also by Ally Carter, Model Spy by Shannon Greenland, and the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Disney-Hyperion

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

London Lane has an unusual problem. Every night when she falls asleep, her memory of that day is erased, and when she dreams, she remembers events in the future. She’s learned to cope with this strangeness by writing herself detailed notes of what she knows she’ll have forgotten by the next day. But the notes are only so much help. They can tell her what has happened, but it doesn’t make dating a guy she has no memory of any less awkward. But dealing with day-to-day life turns out to be the least of London’s worries when she starts having some disturbing visions in her dreams. London can’t help but feel that she needs to unravel the mystery of this vision to stop a tragedy from happening, but what if the key lies not in the future, but in her past?

Forgotten is a novel that is brilliant in subtle ways. The plot itself is satisfying with a good mix of mystery, romance, and drama specific to London’s unusual memory problems. London’s failure to remember the past takes a while to get used to, but the characters overall are mostly realistic. However, it’s not the plot or characters that truly stood out to me but rather the complicated theory and ideas woven into the story. It’s so evident that Patrick thoroughly thought through the specifics, consequences, and possible causes of a new kind of memory. The way that London’s reverse memory affects every aspect of her life is absolutely compelling and the true driving force of this novel. London’s story raises so many fascinating questions about free will, the consequences of the choices we make, and the connection between the psyche and the passage of time. Forgotten is without a doubt a good story, but it’s one that is even better because of its unique ideas.

Forgotten is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver as well as by any reader who is interested in the psychology of memory.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Little, Brown

Win Dark Parties by Sara Grant

CONTEST CLOSED

In a world shrouded in fear and lies, how can you shed light on the truth?

Sixteen-year-old Neva lives in Homeland, an isolated country separated from the rest of the world by the Protectosphere. The government insists there’s nothing beyond its borders, but as Homeland’s resources dwindle, people, girls mainly, have started to go missing. If there’s no way out of the Protectosphere, where are they going? Suspecting the government is lying about everything, Neva and her friends stage a Dark Party in the hope of uncovering the truth and finding the freedom they dream about.

Learn more: http://www.facebook.com/darkparties

(2) lucky winners will receive Dark Parties by Sara Grant
courtesy of Big Honcho Media



Other details:

• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest ends 8/12/11, at 9 p.m. PST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered, and only one form submission per person will be counted. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

Dark Parties by Sara Grant

Neva isn’t like other girls living under the Protectosphere. She isn’t content to blindly follow all the rules of the Homeland. She can’t be the only one who’s noticed the people who’ve gone missing. She can’t be the only who remembers the people everyone else seems to have forgotten. Surely she can’t be the only one who feels like she’s suffocating under the tight grasp of the supposedly benevolent Protectosphere. Neva is sure that there must be some kind of alternative to this sham of a life, and she’ll stop at nothing to find it. But what starts as a “dark party” to seek out others like her soon devolves into a tangled web of lies, deceit, and betrayal. The escalating threats of danger from the government may enough to discourage her conspirators, but Neva can’t un-know all the dreadful secrets she’s learned. Is there really life outside of the Protectosphere? Neva isn’t quite so sure anymore—but she’s sure she’s willing to die to find out.

I actually wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into when I picked up Dark Parties, and now having read the book, I can say that what I got was totally unexpected but in the best way. This book’s title is somewhat misleading in that I thought the whole story would be about these mysterious “dark parties;” instead they are the catalyst for the madness that follows. Dark Parties contains many elements that I’ve previously seen in other dystopian novels, including government corruption, dwindling resources, and censorship, but Grant integrates them into her story in such a way that they don’t feel old, even if they don’t feel fresh either.  I have to say that it was probably Grant’s writing style that truly drew me in; I was hooked by the way she was able to so perfectly captures the uncertainty, fear, and longing in Neva’s life, all in just the first chapter. Then she continued to reel my in closer to the heart of the story with such impeccable pacing and plotting until the very satisfying conclusion. Dark Parties is so much more than a mere summary of review can every do justice. It drags up old ideas and forces the reader to really examine them closely. This is one of those rare books that provides both thrilling entertainment and a good reason to reevaluate one’s outlook and values.

Dark Parties is a must read, especially for fans of Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Birthmarked by Caragh M. O’Brien, and Candor by Pam Bachorz. I can’t wait to see what debut author Grant writes next.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from Big Honcho Media

Spellbinder by Helen Stringer

Belladonna Johnson can see ghosts, but until recently, it’s been more trouble than useful, since it wouldn’t be good for Belladonna to be caught talking to someone invisible. But when her parents are killed in a car accident, she realizes how great her skill is. Even though no one else can see her parents, for Belladonna, it’s like nothing has changed. And for a while, everything is great—until one day, the stars blink out and her parents disappear without warning. Something is seriously wrong. Ghosts aren’t just supposed to disappear like that. So Belladonna, with the help of her sneaky classmate Steve, is going to find out exactly what is amiss before the ghosts—including her parents—are gone for good.

I really enjoy reading middle grade fantasy because younger protagonists are given a chance to truly shine in such imaginative stories. Spellbinder, thankfully, is one of these books. Belladonna and Steve have a youthful sort of immaturity which is so endearing, and the way that they go about trying to fix their problems has a logic unique to their young and curious age. It’s nice to take a break sometimes from young adult fantasy, where romance is usually prevalent, to see that fantasy can also be a realm where innocence and fun reign. Stringer has created such a fascinating story where ghosts and other scarier creatures exist, there are multiple realms, and it’s up to two kids to basically save the world. This younger fantasy is full of twists and turns and is immensely enjoyable for both the middle grade age group and older readers.

Spellbinder will be enjoyed by fans of Mister Monday by Garth Nix, Poison by Chris Wooding, and Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy borrowed

Win The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

CONTEST CLOSED

To celebrate the paperback release of The DUFF by the fabulous Kody Keplinger, I have one copy to give away!

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

(1) lucky winner will receive The DUFF by Kody Keplinger



Other details:

• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest ends 8/05/11, at 9 p.m. EST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered, and only one form submission per person will be counted. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

How is it fair that Madison’s boyfriend can cheat on her with the most popular girl in school and come away socially unscathed? Madison knows that eventually her boyfriend will get what he deserves, or so her friends say, but it is seriously unsatisfying watching him go around with his new girlfriend as if nothing at all is wrong. Madison doesn’t really want to wait around for Karma to do its work, because, let’s face it, Karma can be a really slow process, and Madison wants to be around to see its results. So she and her friends decide to form the Karma Club in order to speed up Karma’s work. But when things start to go wrong, Madison will have to realize that maybe messing with Karma wasn’t such a good idea after all.

Brody has a knack for imagining slightly ridiculous yet not completely improbable situations to spice up the high school life. Her young adult debut The Karma Club speaks to every person out there who’s ever felt wronged: what better way to take back control than act as Karma’s worldly agent? Through Madison’s hilarious and heartbreaking story, Brody explores the consequences of the choices we make, both personally and for those around us. Despite being a little predictable in both outcome and message, this story remains enjoyable due to its quirky characters, unusual situations, and constant humor. Brody’s second YA novel, My Life Undecided, is a little more entertaining and sophisticated than her first, but The Karma Club is still a quick, funny, and satisfying read.

The Karma Club will be enjoyed by fans of Paisley Hanover Kisses and Tells by Cameron Tuttle, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro, and Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern.

Rating: 3.75

Review copy borrowed

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Having moved from place to place frequently with her mother, Drea is used to not making or having friends. She doesn’t need friends; they wouldn’t understand how different she is anyway. Anyway, she has her music, and that’s all that really matters. Or is it? With her latest move, Drea finds herself forming two unlikely friendships with other outsiders, Naomi and Justin. And even though she’s become accustomed to being alone, Drea is starting to really enjoy her time with her new friends, especially after they decide to form a band together. There’s more to Drea’s life now, and she’s starting to like it. But what can she do when the happiness of her new life is threatened? Can she hide behind the music again, or will she have the strength to find solace elsewhere?

Harmonic Feedback was one of those books I originally thought I’d read only if I had the time. Having now read it, I’m glad I found the time, because this novel is such a well written and moving story. Novels with strong connections to music have always been special to me because of my own love of music. I did not understand even half of the highly technical musical terms that Drea uses, but this did not stop me from enjoying the story since Drea’s passion for music is so clear. Kelly has done a remarkably good job of establishing her characters, especially including Drea, Naomi, and Justin. Their flaws, their fears, and most of all, their true passions are so vividly drawn to the extent that they feel entirely realistic even though we don’t see that much of some of them. This is an exceptional debut that manages to combine friendship, love, dysfunction, and loss so beautifully. I look forward to see where Kelly’s writing will take readers in her upcoming, also musically inspired book, Amplified.

Harmonic Feedback will be enjoyed by fans of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert, Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway, and Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph.

Rating: 4.25

Review copy from publisher Macmillan

UnRequired Reading Giveaway

CONTEST CLOSED

Don't you love it when summertime rolls around and you actually have time to read books not assigned in class? I know I do!

Fortunately, I am not the only one who thinks that way! Disney Hyperion has an entire Facebook page devoted to it. Check it out here: http://www.facebook.com/unREQUIREDREADING

In celebration of summer, among other things, I am giving away a couple of super awesome water bottles. Take them with you when you go read outside so you don't get dehydrated!

(2) lucky winners will receive an UnRequired Reading water bottle
courtesy of publisher Disney-Hyperion



Other details:

• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest ends 7/30/11, at 9 p.m. EST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered, and only one form submission per person will be counted. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

When April’s dad announces that he’s moving to Cleveland, Ohio, of all places, April’s first thought is no way! Because there’s no way that she can move away now, not in the middle of the school year. There’s no way she can leave her friends and especially her boyfriend behind. And so she comes up with the perfect plan: she’ll move in with her best friend Vi. April’s dad doesn’t really need to know that Vi’s mother won’t be around, because April and Vi don’t need parental supervision. They’re responsible and can take care of themselves. Totally. But sooner or later, this giant slumber party is bound to get a little out of control, and the aftermath is not going to be so pretty. But after all the drama, discomfort, and deception, April will find out that a life so horrible fallen apart can still be pieced back together into something good.

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) is not necessarily the most realistic piece of fiction, unless you happen to be author Sarah Mlynowski. For the rest of us, this novel is more of an exercise in wish fulfillment. After all, what teen wouldn’t want to live parent-free, given the opportunity? Readers get to live vicariously through April’s perspective as she navigates the benefits, responsibilities, and consequences of living on her own. It starts out as a hilarious joyride, but things predictably have to start going wrong. Mlynowski manages to keep a current of humor running throughout the entire story, which makes the more difficult situations more manageable to read about. I completely enjoyed the more lighthearted parts of the story, but Mlynowski’s skillful combination of seriousness and humor gives the rest of the story a lot of depth. With interesting characters, a realistic teen voice, compelling circumstances, and lots of laughs, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) is a fun and meaningful book worthy of every girl’s attention.

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian and The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from BEA

5 Book Events + 1 Contest

Since I was too lazy forgot to post about all the events I went to last week, you guys are about to be inundated with pictures and commentary from the events I attended in the past two weeks. That means everything from  different events. But, I'm going to tell you up front that you have something to look forward to at the end of this post! (I'd say it's pretty obvious from the title of this post, but if you still can't figure it out, then read on...)

Two Sundays ago, I went down to Books of Wonder to see six different authors: Leah Cypress, Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban, Kaitlin Kittredge, Kate Milford, Jen Nadol, and Caragh M. O’Brien. The whole event was a lot of fun, and I loved getting to hear each author read and talk about her books.

Leah Cypress, Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban, and Caitlin Kittredge

Kate Milford, Jen Nadol, and the lovely Caragh M. O'Brien

The highlight of that event for me, though, was having the opportunity to chat with Caragh. I have been a huge fan of Birthmarked for over a year, and thanks to my interning privileges, I have also secured a copy of its sequel, Prized. Caragh was an absolute sweetheart in response to some serious fangirling by myself and Kaila, a Books of Wonder employee extraordinaire, and was generous enough to sit through all my tedious questions of “research” for my related Intern Chronicles blog post.

Kaila gives Caragh an orange

me and Caragh M. O'Brien

That next Tuesday, I attended the Romance Writers of America Literacy Autographing. Now, I stick pretty closely to YA in my reading and don’t really have time to read romance, but there are actually quite a large number of YA authors who are members of RWA.

I had a great time walking around with my awesome author friend Kody Keplinger. Because Kody is so cool and knows so many other authors, I had the opportunity to talk with Sophie Jordan, Erica O’Rourke, Kimberly Derting, Heather Davis, Tera Lynn Childs, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, Sarah MacLean, and more. I was a little too overwhelmed by the sheer size of the event to take any pictures, but I did get to eat dinner (or in my case, dessert) with a few authors after the madness was over, including Kody, Sophie, Kimberly, Tera, Heather, all of which I got to chat with during the event, as well as the lovely Inara Scott.

That Thursday, I made my way back to Books of Wonder for yet another event. This one was for Kimberly Derting, Adele Griffin, Lisa Schroeder, and Laurie Faria Stolarz. All of the readings were fabulous. Especially Adele’s, and not only because she borrowed my copy of Tighter to read from. Laurie even gave us a sneak peak at the fourth book in her Touch series, called Deadly Little Voices, which was just fantastic. This is not a series that I have kept up with, but Laurie’s reading was enough to make me want to dive back in!

Kimberly Derting & Adele Griffin

Lisa Schroeder & Laurie Faria Stolarz

me and the lovely Adele Griffin

Now, who else did I see there besides the lovely ladies who were featured? This list would include Kody Keplinger, Frankie from First Novels Club, Mitali from Alley of Books, someone else who reads this blog (you know who you are!) and probably other people who have slipped my mind, even though this event was only a week ago!

Now for the events of this week! On Tuesday, I went back to Books of Wonder, again, to see Leah Clifford, Lisa Desrochers, and Courtney Allison Moulton. Each of these new lovely ladies read from her book and then took questions from the audience.

Courtney Allison Moulton, Leah Clifford, and Lisa Desrochers

In addition to getting a few books signed (hint hint), I had the best time chatting with Kody Keplinger (that’s right, that would make 3 Kody sightings in one week!), Frankie from First Novels Club, and each of the authors there.

Before we get ahead of ourselves for the contest, I want to squeeze in one last event! On Wednesday, I made it down to the Jefferson Market branch of the NYPL for the July Teen Author Reading Night. This Reading Night featured a grand total of 9 authors (though there were many more in attendance): Tara Altebrando, Matt Blackstone, Christopher Grant, Alissa Grosso, Sarah Darer Littman, Blake Nelson, Gae Polisner, Nova Ren Suma, and Melissa Walker. Each read a short snippet from their latest or upcoming book and then took questions from David Levithan and the audience.

Gae Polisner, Alissa Grosso, Sarah Darer Littman, Tara Altebrando, Melissa Walker, Nova Ren Suma, Matt Blackstone, Blake Nelson, and Christopher Grant

I got to chat with so many other exciting people who were also in the audience including: authors Léna Roy, Marianna Baer, Gwendolyn Heasley, Michael Northrop, and Jon Yang; Mitali from Alley of Books; Sam from Living Little Women; and, of course, Marie, a super cool librarian.

And now (drumroll please), the moment you’ve all been waiting for…the contest!

CONTEST CLOSED

(1) lucky winner will received signed copies of Personal Demons and Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

To enter this contest, please fill out this form:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFlDbmFWWkJETko3TW5nRWFHWl9DYWc6MQ

Other details:

• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest ends 7/22/11, at 9 p.m. EST.

Remember, you must complete the form to be entered, and only one form submission per person will be counted. If you have any questions about this contest, see my contest policy, or contact me and ask away.

The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch

After the death of her mother, sixteen-year-old Alex is forced to leave her home on a commune in northern California to move in with her grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. Alex knows that she doesn’t belong there; her dreadlocks and ratty clothing make her stand out horribly in her grandmother’s exquisite mansion. And so, Alex immediately starts making plans for escape. She refuses to take part in the Magnolia League, Savannah’s elite debutante society, but what she doesn’t know is that she might not have a choice in the matter. And the longer she is forced to stay, the more that the Magnolia League seems to grow on her—after all, every member seems to be young, wealthy, and beautiful. It’s almost unnatural, and it won’t be long before Alex discovers the Magnolia League’s sinister connection to a family that practices hoodoo. But if Alex gives into this new way of life, what will be the cost?

I wanted to read The Magnolia League because I am fascinated by hoodoo, but I was disappointed by this novel on many accounts. I found it rather difficult to get into the story because I could not relate to Alex in the least; it wasn’t just her style and appearance that disgruntled me, but her attitudes about her former life on the commune and her current life in a southern mansion as well. I couldn’t understand many of her motives and opinions, especially her reluctance to let go of her boyfriend from the commune even though he never treated her well and seriously mixed opinions about the younger members of the Magnolia League. On a more positive note, I was intrigued by the connection between The Magnolia League and the Buzzard family, which practices hoodoo. It was interesting to learn how the alliance formed and evolved over time. I wish there was more of an emphasis on this as well as some of the later secrets about this alliance revealed toward the end of the book, because this was not only much better executed but also much more interesting than Alex’s personal issues. I am unsure as to whether I will pick up a sequel to this novel, because although I am interested in the subject matter, the story was not particularly well written or executed.

The Magnolia League may still be enjoyed by fans of Ruined by Paula Morris and Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall.

Rating: 3.0

Review copy from publisher Little, Brown

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Gwyneth Shepherd’s family is anything but ordinary, because every once in a while, a girl is born with the ability to time travel. In this case, it’s Gwyneth’s beautiful and sophisticated cousin Charlotte. Gwyneth hasn’t really minded having to put up with Charlotte while she’s being prepared to be spirited to another era, that is, until she realizes that her family has been wrong all along—Charlotte isn’t the one with the ability to time travel, Gwyneth is! And that is a problem for so many reasons, the very least being Charlotte’s mother’s jealousy and anger. Now Gwyneth has to figure out how to not let her travels catch her too off guard, live life in the 18^th century, and deal with the arrogant Gideon, one of the few other time travelers alive and the only one close to her in age. As she’s plunged into a dangerous new world of magic, romance, and intrigue, Gwyneth can only hope she’ll be able to emerge unscathed.

I stumbled onto Ruby Red purely by accident, and boy am I glad that I did! This novel is a truly enchanting time travel fantasy layered with mystery, secrets, and romance. Time travel is a concept that has always fascinated me, and I am fortunate that all the other books I’ve read involving this concept have been just fantastic. And even though I loved all the other time travel books I’ve read, I still immensely enjoyed Ruby Red. This book is just so imaginative and beautifully written. I couldn’t help but be swept up in Gwyneth’s adventures, both in present day and in the past because Gier transitions so smoothly between them. With wonderfully crafted characters, perfectly executed plot, and utterly captivating ideas, Ruby Red is the type of book that you just want to sit back for and enjoy the ride. This novel was originally published and has become wildly popular in Germany, and I truly hope that it will become just as popular in the US, because, even or especially in translation, Ruby Red is a YA fantasy novel of the highest quality and content. I absolutely cannot wait for the next two installments in this trilogy, Sapphire Blue and Emerald Green to come to the US.

Ruby Red is the type of story that can be enjoyed by all readers with an imagination, especially those who also liked Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.

Rating: 4.75

Review copy from publisher Macmillan

The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

Jack’s life is screwed up. Maybe it’s because he got drunk, was kidnapped, and barely escaped with his life. Maybe it’s because the only person her could tell was his best friend Conner. Or maybe it’s because when he and Conner arrive in London for the summer, a stranger gives Jack a pair of purple-tinted glasses, through which Jack can see another world called Marbury. And it’s a terrifying place, since there’s a war going on between these savage, animalistic beings and Jack’s friends, who may be the only sane people left as far as they know. Everything is wrong in Marbury, but everything is wrong in the real world too. Maybe Jack might be falling in love with the right girl and maybe he’s somewhat decent at taking care of his friends in Marbury, but he’s afraid he’s losing his mind. And he’s not sure if it will ever be okay.

The Marbury Lens is an utterly fascinating read. I was so enthralled by the story that I found it exceedingly difficult to put it down, even though I couldn’t really get what was going on half of the time. This was partly because there was just so much going on at once. Additionally, though, many of the details and events seem like they have some sort of extra meaning, but it is just impossible to pinpoint. I’ll admit that that this frustrated me at times, because though the entire story was so intriguing, sometimes I found myself wondering what the point was. I had to step away from the big picture to truly appreciate the cleverness behind this book. Smith has some pretty great ideas, and I loved how he wove together the real world with that of Marbury in layers. Smith combines elements of psychological thrillers and fantasy to switch back and forth between the worlds along with Jack. The outcome is an incredibly fast paced that will both confuse you and kind of blow your mind, even when you can’t figure out the purpose of it all.

The Marbury Lens will be enjoyed by fans of Darkside by Tom Becker and Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from publisher Macmillan