Book Review: A History of Glitter and Blood

Title: A History of Glitter and Blood
Author: Hannah Moskowitz
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Expected Publication Date: August 4th, 2015
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies.

But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected.

Review: **Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

A History of Glitter and Blood was at it's finest  - intricate and moving, and at it's lowest - slow and confusing. I read it in one sitting, and I'm still not sure if it's one of the best books I've ever read, or the worst, and it can be compared with possibly no other Young Adult book... which I'm not sure this even is?

The thing I liked best about this book was probably the characters and their relationships with one another. There is a lot of intimacy between characters who were not necessarily in a romantic relationship and jealousy is rarely a thing that comes into play and it was all so deliciously real, you know? At least for a bunch of fairies and gnomes and tightropers. I also really enjoyed how there was no sense of characters being either/or in terms of sexuality everybody just -was- and it worked brilliantly.

The book did drag on a little, especially towards the end. On one hand a lot of it was integral to the story, but on the other parts were so slow that I was debating on just going to bed instead of finishing the book.

I did love all the pictures in the book. They added a significant element to the book and also helped the reader understand a little bit more about Ferrum's history - which ultimately I would have liked more of but as it stands the book did okay without it.

I could understand how this book could make someone uncomfortable - there were quite a few scenes in which the main characters are prostitutes, a fact which is not disclosed in the blurb. This is not something that would turn me off the book, but a little warning would have been appreciated. Then again, how do you casually slip the fact that Beckan, Scrap and Cricket are sex workers to the gnomes who occasionally eat fairies?

I'm still not entirely sure whether I really liked this book enough, but I'd have to give it 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 for good measure, and I look forward to reading Moskowitz other works.

Rating: 4/5 stars
★★★★✰

Book Review: Vanished

Title: Vanished
Author: E. E. Cooper
Year of Publication: 2015
Summary:  Friendship. Obsession. Deception. Love.

Kalah knows better than to fall for Beth Taylor . . . but that doesn't stop her from falling hard and falling fast, heart first into a sea of complications.

Then Beth vanishes. She skips town on her eighteenth birthday, leaving behind a flurry of rumors and a string of broken hearts. Not even Beth's best friend, Britney, knows where she went. Beth didn't even tell Kalah good-bye.

One of the rumors links Beth to Britney's boyfriend, and Kalah doesn't want to believe the betrayal. But Brit clearly believes it—and before Kalah can sort out the truth, Britney is dead.

When Beth finally reaches out to Kalah in the wake of Brit's suicide, Kalah wants to trust what Beth tells her. But she's swiftly realizing that nothing here is as it seems. Kalah's caught in the middle of a deadly psychological game, and only she can untangle the deceptions and lies to reveal the unthinkable truth.

Review: Vanished was a confusing book. Confusing in a good way. But there were so many red herrings, it almost gave me whiplash. It also reminded me a lot of Gone Girl.

I have to put this out there straight away, I knew Britney wasn't dead from the moment it was revealed on the page that she had committed suicide. No body? Pssh. I've seen like five seasons of Pretty Little Liars. No body = not dead. Always.

So while this story was a little predictable, it was also a good read and a strong debut novel for the author, E. E. Cooper. I liked most of the characters, even when I hated them - they were well crafted. Well, maybe with the exception of Britney's mother who was horrible and a little bit racist, and sort of one dimensional and oh, did I mention absolutely horrible? Yeah, I hated her.

I am almost wishing for a sequel or more pages in the book so we can see if Britney was ever brought to justice or not. Also, I would have loved to read more about Kalah and Beth's relationship. I definitely did not agree with how Kalah handed it, especially to do with Zach but I can emphasize. I remember all too well how falling in love with someone I was not supposed to felt.

I don't know how realistic this novel was, but it was an entertaining read nonetheless. I look forward to more by this author. Rating 3.5, rounded up to 4.

Rating:
4/5 stars
★★★★✰

Book Review: Frenemy of the People

Title: Frenemy of the People
Author: Nora Olsen
Year of publication: 2014
Summary: Clarissa and Lexie couldn’t be more different. Clarissa is a chirpy, optimistic do-gooder and a top rider on the school’s equestrian team. Lexie is an angry, punk rock activist and the only out lesbian at their school.

When Clarissa declares she’s bi and starts a Gay-Straight Alliance, she unwittingly presses all of Lexie’s buttons, so Lexie makes it her job to cut Clarissa down to size. But Lexie goes too far and finds herself an unwitting participant in Clarissa’s latest crusade. Both are surprised to find their mutual loathing turning to love.

A change in her family’s fortunes begins to unravel Clarissa’s seemingly perfect life, and the girls’ fledgling love is put to the test. Clarissa and Lexie each have what the other needs to save their relationship and the people they love from forces that could tear them all apart.


Review: **Copy kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Frenemy of the People was such an adorable, light read. I wasn't so sure I would like it at the start - the first chapter felt clunky and claustrophobic but it got progressively better from the second chapter out.

The story did have it's flaws though. The characters were unique - but yes, they had their initial stereotypes, even if they quickly became so much more. Clarissa was such a naive airhead in the beginning of the story, reminding me a lot of Bianca Stratford a la 10 Things I Hate About You, but like Bianca she slowly revealed that she did indeed have a brain in there, even if her moods gave me whiplash sometimes, and her view on homeless people was kind of disgusting.

Lexie was pretty brash, and said a lot of things that could be interpreted offensively. Such as: "You just realised? How do you really know? Have you ever even kissed a girl?" Look… Lexie, you’re gay. You should know what it feels like when people say this to you. You do not need to have kissed or done anything else with a girl to know you are gay or bi or pan or queer or whatever. It’s about attraction. Most of the time though, Lexie takes it upon herself to be educated about why what she has said is offensive.

I identified strongly with Clarissa's fears after Lexie asked her how she really knew [that she was bi]. Being told by somebody in the LGBTQ+ community that you have to have kissed a girl to really know you like them is a really harsh blow, especially if you've been told the same thing by people outside the community previously.

That being said though, you should probably not go up to random strangers and ask them for a kiss.

And you should definitely not throw rocks through bank windows, or bulldoze houses, no matter how angry or in love you are. Seriously, don't. You will wind up in jail. I can't believe neither of the girls really got busted for either of their actions.

I can't believe Lexie's parents didn't forbid her from going to homecoming after what she did, either. I get that her parents are not really good ones, but still, sheesh. That's being awful lenient considering their daughter drove a bulldozer into a house.

Overall, the novel really was charming though, especially Desi. It definitely is the type of story that leaves you smiling for ages afterward, and I think that this one deserves a wider audience than what it currently has. Actual rating = 3.5 stars, but rounding down for the sake of uniformity.

Rating: 3/5 stars
★★★✰✰

Book Review: Remember Me

Title: Remember Me
Author: Melanie Batchelor
Year of publication: 2014
Summary:  Jamie Richards has lost a lot. Her father died four years ago and her mother is consumed by her career. Jamie finds an escape through her artistic passion and her first love—the one person who hasn’t abandoned her, Erica Sinclair.

Overwhelmed by their own harsh realities, Jamie and Erica create a world of their own in an abandoned park—a place they call “Wonderland.” Jamie idolizes Erica until the two grow closer, and she realizes that her ideal image of Erica is nothing shy of fiction. When cracks beneath the exterior become more prevalent, Jamie begins to question the love she thought she had for Erica, and if that love was ever reciprocated.

And then it happens. A shocking event occurs that changes Jamie and Erica’s relationship forever. Jamie knows that there’s no escaping this reality—she’ll have to find a way to move forward without hiding behind her sketchbook.


Review: **Copy kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Remember Me is a book written entirely in verse, which I did not know going into the story. Usually I don't read books like this, finding a better story weaved in regular fiction - however Remember Me is an exception.

Remember Me was the sort of book that was better because it wasn't perfect. Sometimes the words seemed clunky, or there wasn't enough explanation, or it just plain would have read better as a short story. Overall though, the raw honesty and emotion of Batchelor's work sent me into tears more than once. The parts about Jamie's dad were absolutely gripping. I don't know if the author has experienced such a loss in her life or not, but she was absolutely spot on there. Jamie's grief felt tangible and was absolutely flooring.

Batchelor's debut is a job absolutely well done, especially at such a young age. The story read very well, with a few exceptions - I would have liked more information on Asher, Chris, and the days between Erica's suicide and the end of the book. But perhaps in this book, less is more as it makes the story a bit more memorable.

Overall, I'd give the book 3.5/5 stars as a whole, rounding up to 4 and would definitely read more of Batchelor's work in the future

Rating: 4/5 stars

★★★★✰

Book Review: Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel

Title: Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel
Author: Sara Farizan
Expected Publication Date: October 7th, 2014
Summary: High-school junior Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is something of a relief. Her Persian heritage already makes her different from her classmates; if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when a sophisticated, beautiful new girl, Saskia, shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual. Struggling to sort out her growing feelings and Saskia's confusing signals, Leila confides in her old friend, Lisa, and grows closer to her fellow drama tech-crew members, especially Tomas, whose comments about his own sexuality are frank, funny, wise, and sometimes painful. Gradually, Leila begins to see that almost all her classmates are more complicated than they first appear to be, and many are keeping fascinating secrets of their own


**Copy kindly provided by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.**


Review: Farizan's second novel is a great addition to the growing list of LGBTQ+ YA fiction. Our protagonist Leila, attends a prestigious high school where she is already different because of her Persian heritage - if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard.

The novel itself was a mostly light, funny, and well written read that never felt stilted or contrived. Farizan does a great job weaving the tale with an equal measure of hopeful, humorous, and heartbreaking moments - at some points, it was enough to bring me to tears.

Leila is a great protagonist and believable teenager with a true-to-life voice. Scenes with her family were some of my favourite of the book. Her parents were not absent, like so many of them are in YA fiction. They felt real and vivid, and I could tell they loved their daughters very much.

The tech trio were some of my favourite characters of the book - I kind of wished we'd got more of them sooner. They were quirky, in a good way, and kind of reminded me of the three fairy godmothers from Sleeping Beauty.

Saskia was a real piece of work. The worst part of her character was that there really are girls like that in real life, and they will play with your heart. I kind of wished we'd gotten more closure on what happened to her, maybe seen some justice getting served... but the sad part is that in reality, the bully often does get away with it, especially if you go to a less-than accepting school and you happen to be part of a minority group.

Leila's coming out scene was painfully real. As I read it, I felt that familiar bubble of nausea in my stomach that seems to be present whenever I have to come out to somebody, whether it be a new friend, or a family member whom I haven't seen in years. It was absolute torture waiting for Leila's mom to tell the rest of the family. I felt so on edge reading through that part of the book, I know how Leila felt.

Overall, Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel was a great read that gets bonus points for actually making me shed tears. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down. It's a step up from the usual selection of YA LGBTQ+ fiction, and stands firm with other releases from this year so far. I'd recommend this book to anyone and everyone - it's well worth the read and Farizan does a great job with it.

Rating: 4/5 stars
★★★★✰

Book Review: Breaking Free

Title: Breaking Free
Author: Winter Page
Year of Publication: 2014
Summary: Raimi Carter is finally a girl, just like she always knew she was meant to be. At a new school where nobody knows she’s had gender reassignment surgery, she hopes to finally live the normal life she’s longed for, happy in her own skin.

Life is great until she discovers a dangerous bully is blackmailing head cheerleader, Clare Strickland, threatening to reveal her secret: she’s gay. As Raimi fights to free Clare from his clutches, the two girls move beyond friendship. But secrets from their pasts and their own fears of coming out tear them apart—maybe forever. Baring their souls to each other could cost them everything. For two girls trapped and desperately in love, only strength, courage, and trust in each other will help them break free and claim their future

Review:  **Copy kindly provided by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.**

Ah, where do I start with this one. The synopsis promised an interesting read - Raimi Carter has just started high school after two years of being home-schooled, and then finally gender reassignment surgery.

Listen, there aren't enough books in the world dealing with LGBTQ+ issues, especially Young Adult ones. Most books in the YA section of a bookstore are about cis/het individuals, who are more often than not, white. I've learnt to take what I can get regarding LGBTQ+ fiction - problematic relationships, bad writing, horrible characters, stereotypes galore... but gosh, I don't think I have ever read something this bad that wasn't written by a twelve year old on a fanfiction site.

I really, really wanted to enjoy this book, and I did... for the first two paragraphs, and then it all went downhill from there. Raimi is clearly the epitome of a Mary Sue - literally perfect at everything and oh-so-beautiful. She also looks down upon her peers and judges them, even though she herself would not want to be judged. The characters are little more than caricatures of stereotypes, which was evident from the moment Raimi's Spanish and Calculus teachers were introduced, and it did not get any better as we met the supporting cast.

The book didn't seem all that realistic, either, as Raimi has already had surgeries and hormones that usually are expensive and also generally illegal for minors. I get that this book was written by somebody still in high school, so I'm trying not to be too harsh. Page can spin a story, but I just think they need more practice and life experience, as evidenced by the events of the story and the horrible ending - which was way too sudden, and also, did I mention, horrible?

I think with a few re-writes and a good editor, this book could be really good and Page shouldn't be discouraged by the bad reviews. Rome was not built in a day and neither were best sellers. My advice to Page would be to keep going - there is potential for a great story here.

Rating: 2/5 stars
★★✰✰✰

Book Review: Adaption

Title: Adaption
Author: Malinda Lo
Year of Publication: 2012
Summary: Across North America, flocks of birds hurl themselves into airplanes, causing at least a dozen to crash. Thousands of people die. Fearing terrorism, the United States government grounds all flights, and millions of travelers are stranded.

Reese and her debate team partner and longtime crush David are in Arizona when it happens. Everyone knows the world will never be the same. On their drive home to San Francisco, along a stretch of empty highway at night in the middle of Nevada, a bird flies into their headlights. The car flips over. When they wake up in a military hospital, the doctor won’t tell them what happened, where they are—or how they’ve been miraculously healed.

Things become even stranger when Reese returns home. San Francisco feels like a different place with police enforcing curfew, hazmat teams collecting dead birds, and a strange presence that seems to be following her. When Reese unexpectedly collides with the beautiful Amber Gray, her search for the truth is forced in an entirely new direction—and threatens to expose a vast global conspiracy that the government has worked for decades to keep secret.


Review: Overall, Adaption was a good read. The characters were good, the story was good... it just wasn't as great as I thought it would be. It was very loosely wound, and though I read it in basically no time at all it never kept me on the edge of my seat. For as many pages as there was, there really wasn't enough steam.

Reese and Amber's relationship kind of read a little like one out of a Julie Anne Peters book - I just wasn't entirely convinced. It all seemed a little contrived, as much as I wanted to be totally on board with it and shipping it like crazy. Her relationship with David felt a little more real, though I think I like them better as friends.

I kind of wished there was more about the aliens, maybe a little spookiness, and perhaps a little more description. I'm hoping Inheritance will be better, maybe more fast paced.

Recommended for: Fans of Julie Anne Peters, LGBTQ+ Teens

Rating:  3/5 stars
 ★★★✰✰