Book Review: The Pact by Jodi Picoult

The Pact- Jodi Picoult

Synopsis:

Emily Gold and Christopher Harte have known each other their whole lives, having grown up next door to each other in the small town of Bainbridge, New Hampshire. Virtually inseparable, the two are best friends and soul mates, with their friendship blossoming into a romantic relationship when they reach their teens. Their parents, Melanie and Michael Gold, and James and Gus (Augusta) Harte, are just as excited at the romantic union between their children- unsurprised at the turn that their friendship has taken- and impatiently wait for the day when they will be able to call each other in-laws, rather than just best friends.

But everything changes one night when Emily and Chris are admitted into hospital- Emily with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The gun, belonging to Chris’ father, is found at the scene, with one unspent bullet still remaining in it. Chris tells police that the second bullet was intended for him, to complete the suicide pact he made with his girlfriend, but that he fainted before he could take his own life.

Doubting Chris’ story, the police decide to launch an investigation, naming Chris as the main suspect, and treating Emily’s death as a homicide…

What I gained from reading this book:

As with all of Picoult’s novels, The Pact raises some serious issues- most notably issues regarding teen suicide and love- and challenges the sincerity of the old saying, ‘Innocent until proven guilty’.

Chris’ life is irrevocably changed as he finds himself on trial for his beloved’s murder. His intense love for Emily, and his willingness to see her happy -whatever the cost- is his ultimate downfall. He learns who his true friends are, and discovers just how far his mother is willing to go to show her unwavering support for her son. Similarly, he sees how, despite his distancing himself from the problem, his father still tries to show compassion for Chris’ cause.

All of this is in direct contrast to Melanie Gold’s reaction to Chris’ involvement in her daughter’s death. Melanie, despite knowing Chris his whole life, is unable to comprehend that her daughter was suicidal, instead preferring to pin the blame on Chris, labelling him a murderer. She refuses to believe that her daughter wouldn’t talk to her about any problem that she may have had. This raises the question: How well do we ever really know our friends and family? There is always the perception that we should know when something is wrong, but in actuality, sometimes these problems can remain a secret until it’s too late to do anything about them. This book highlights the anguish faced by two grieving families, and serves as a lesson to readers that sometimes we don’t know people as well as we’d like to think we do.

Positives:

This novel is beautifully written- Picoult makes it easy to understand and feel the conflict that Emily experiences in her relationship with Chris. Similarly, the tension and the emotion surrounding Emily’s death and Chris’ subsequent incarceration and trial, is extremely life-like, and draws us into the characters’ world.

Negatives:

This novel could be a little bit depressing for some people. Emily believes that all of her troubles will disappear if she can find a way to end her life, and as we progress through the book, we can see that this belief is what pushes her to make the decisions that she does- ultimately turning Chris’ life upside down. People who are looking for a light and fluffy read should steer clear from this novel.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: People who would do anything for love, even if the end result involves serious repercussions.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead

SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT. WARNING: The contents of this review may give away some of the major plotlines within the series. Do not continue reading if you want to be pleasantly surprised by the book.

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis: The last few years at St Vladmir’s Academy have been rough for Rose Hathaway, but the end is finally near. Graduation is approaching- and after all the love, loss, killing and heartache that have taken place- Rose is excited to leave the school and finally enter the real world as a renowned and successful Guardian. Although she has high hopes of guarding her best friend- and the last Dragomir princess- Lissa, Rose knows that her questionable behaviour record could be an issue. Having just returned from her failed mission to Siberia to locate and destroy her Strigoi ‘boyfriend’ Dimitri, Rose is feeling a little down about her chances of getting this highly coveted position. Making her feel even more ill at ease, Rose knows that Dimitri is still out there- biding his time until she leaves the grounds of the school so that he can attack her and make her into a Strigoi just like him- or die trying. But she also lives with a kind of hope, especially after learning that the Moroi power of spirit (which Lissa yields) could be the cure capable of changing a Strigoi back into its former self. Determined to find out more about this potentially incredible feat- which could mean the difference between killing Dimitri and turning him back into the Dhampir he once was- Rose enlists the help of her friends to uncover as much as she can about the only Moroi who has ever saved a Strigoi. But Rose’s mission comes at a cost, one that means danger for more than just her and her friends. It’s a race against time, as they try to find a cure for Dimitri- before he can find and destroy them…

What I gained from reading this book: Whereas the previous book was all about dealing with grief, this novel focuses more on redemption, forgiveness and winning back love lost. In Spirit Bound, many of the characters have to find ways to buy back the respect of their friends and, in turn, be forgiven for actions they have taken part in. They also have to find ways to heal the many fissures within their relationships. Due to Avery’s influence (spirit and otherwise) in Blood Promise, Lissa treated Christian harshly, and now needs to earn back his love and respect, while Christian needs to let go of the hurt that he felt at Lissa’s unkind behaviour. Meanwhile, Rose is in a sweet new relationship with Adrian, but she still has strong feelings for Dimitri, who she finds difficult to let go. These emotions cause some rifts within Rose and Adrian’s relationship- especially when Dimitri comes back into their lives- and Rose finds herself drifting between her feelings for the two men. Love is an extremely complicated thing, and both Rose and Lissa keenly illustrate this in the novel. Both girls are in love, yet they are unable to express how they feel without someone getting hurt or losing face amongst others. Spirit Bound teaches us that, while it may hurt sometimes, the best thing to do is take a chance- because you never know how things will turn out. Sure, you may get hurt, but at least you won’t regret not trying…

Positives: The action scenes in this novel are awesome (quite like they were in the other books of this series), and Rose is just as strong-willed as ever. Lissa, too, is starting to come out as a stronger character, and her daring actions take the storyline to new levels.

Negatives: There were a few questions left unanswered at the end of the novel, and, while I’m sure they’ll be answered in the next book, it’s quite irritating that we weren’t given at least some hints towards what may happen next.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who are desperate to find out what happens next for Rose, Lissa and the gang- especially since the next book is the last of the series!

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Book Review: Annexed by Sharon Dogar

Annexed - Sharon Dogar

Synopsis:
Peter van Pels is a Jewish teenager, living in Amsterdam in the 1940s.
With the ever-growing threat of the Nazi invasion, Peter and his parents are reduced to hiding away in the annexe of a factory building. Living with them, in close confines, are the Jewish owners of the building- the Franks- and their two young daughters, Margot and Anne. Pining for his ‘girlfriend’ Liese, who was taken earlier by Nazi soldiers, and wishing he could get out of the annexe and fight the Nazi’s like a man, Peter finds it difficult to adjust to his new life in hiding.
Adding to his frustrations, he finds himself increasingly annoyed by Anne and her constant know-it-all chatter. It gets to the point where his only escape is to sit in the warehouse (on weekends, when no one else is around) and carve wood.
But then Peter starts to notice small changes in Anne, and his tolerance for her grows. Soon, he begins to look forward to the time they spend with each other, and a mutual attraction forms. But does Anne really care about Peter in the way that he cares about her? Is she only spending time with him so that she has something to write about in her precious diary? And when the ultimate betrayal occurs, will he able to live, knowing that Anne is out there somewhere, trying to survive the horrors of the holocaust?
These are Peter van Pels’ (imagined) experiences, dealing with terrible circumstances that will hopefully never be repeated again.

What I gained from reading this book:
There are many themes scattered throughout this novel, but the main ones would have to be about tolerance, love and respect (both of the self, and for others). Peter initially finds it difficult to live in such a small space with people he doesn’t really know or like, but he soon comes to grow fond of his ‘neighbours’. From the start, he shows respect for Mr Frank, and tolerates Mrs Frank and quiet Margot, but he absolutely dislikes Anne. He thinks of her as an obnoxious loudmouth, and constantly compares her to his beloved Liese, a girl who is in all ways opposite to the kind of girl Anne is. It isn’t until he gets to know her, and realise how insecure and afraid she is (and how this shapes her behaviour) that he starts to appreciate Anne’s company. After this, his respect and love for her grows. At the same time, Peter battles with feelings of resentment towards the Nazis and the way that they are treating the Jewish people. He wishes that he could fight them, rather than hide from them, and, already a non-practising Jew, becomes disgusted with the negative status that his religion gives him.
It isn’t until he falls in love with Anne that these feelings gradually fade to the back of his mind, and he has new things to think about.
Readers can learn from Peter’s ability to be more open-minded about his experiences in the annexe, and put those motions into practice in everyday life by being more tolerant of other people.

Positives:
It’s great how the author is able to piece together the Anne Frank story and tell it from Peter’s perspective, putting a different spin on the events that were made so famous in Anne’s diary. Dogar has managed to seamlessly weave real-life facts with fiction, making this novel particularly interesting to read. It makes you want to go back to the original source (Anne Frank’s diary), and read it again.

Negatives:
While it is interesting to read snippets of what Peter experiences in the camps- in between his experiences in the annexe- it can sometimes get a little repetitive reading the same thing over and over. I understand that Dogar is trying to paint a picture of the bleakness that Peter faces in the camps, and is attempting to show the repetitiveness of life for the Jewish prisoners, but it still doesn’t change the fact that reading almost-identical paragraphs at different intervals can get a little tedious.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who have always wondered about the relationship between Anne Frank and Peter van Pels, and don’t mind reading a fictional take on events.



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Book Review: Skins: The Novel by Ali Cronin

Skins: The Novel - Ali Cronin

Synopsis:
The summer holidays have arrived, and the gang at Roundview College is keen to get out and enjoy their break.
Effy, having nearly destroyed the friendship between Cook and Freddy, travels with her mum to Venice, hoping that distance will help her find a solution to her boy problem. But while in Italy, she meets someone new who catches her interest, and in the process, discovers some hard truths about herself.
Cook, trying to regain some of his cocky swagger after Effy dumps him, challenges his best friend Freddy with a ‘sexathon’. While the boys engage in mindless sex with complete strangers in an effort to forget Effy, their friend JJ is left to act as a ‘shag referee’- tallying up his friends’ conquests while secretly wishing he could be ‘normal’ and join in the fun.
Sweet Thomas and kooky Pandora are still very much in love, but Panda’s incessant need to take their relationship to the next level is beginning to drive her boyfriend away.
Twins Emily and Katie go on a three-week family holiday in France, but each is dealing with her own problems and their relationship is more strained than ever. Katie deals with her insecurities in the only way she knows how, while Emily pines away for her girlfriend Naomi, wishing that they could be together for the holidays.
Meanwhile Naomi is starting to consider her academic future, and wondering how her new love is going to fit into it.
Bridging the third and fourth seasons of the popular UK television show, this novel delves into the often-hedonistic lives of a motley crew of young adults- each dealing with issues involving love, friendship, pride and loss.

What I gained from reading this book:
While all of the teenagers in this novel (and television series) are completely different in terms of personality, they all share common concerns regarding their relationships with others. The relationships between Thomas and Pandora appears to be strong, yet there are underlying concerns that threaten to tear them apart. Through her misguided experiences with Cook (in season 3 of the show), Pandora now believes that sex is the ultimate aim in a relationship, and wonders why Thomas is so wary about engaging in the act with her. He can’t convince her that his love for her exceeds his need to get physically intimate, and this causes a rift in their understanding of each other. Similarly, Effy struggles to cope when her sexual advances are rebuffed, especially when this has never before been the case.
Emily and Naomi don’t have any problems in the sexual area of their relationship, yet they both have secret concerns about their future together. Naomi is considering going to university, and Emily wants to take a gap year and travel, but Naomi is unable to tell Emily about her plans because she fears it will be the source of an upheaval in their relationship. Freddy competes in Cook’s ‘sexathon’ competition but he still thinks constantly about Effy and his feelings for her. His guilt about his failed relationship with Katie only compounds the problem.
As is similar in real-life situations, the main issues focussed on in this novel are trust and acceptance. The teenagers in this text are limited in these traits and so their relationships suffer as a result. Basically, if there were more trust and honesty within their relationships, and an ability to accept the unknown, their lives would probably be very different.

Positives:
The author really understands the characters and is able to match their thoughts and characteristics perfectly to those of the teenagers in the show.
This novel is also great because it acts as a bridge between the third and fourth season- creating an original story, but not changing the circumstances. So you could watch the third season, read the book, and then watch the fourth season on television, but if you don’t read the book, you haven’t missed out on anything. It’s a handy filler for those fans wanting a little bit more of their favourite characters.

Negatives:
There is a warning on the cover stating ‘Explicit Content- 18+’, and yes, there is a reason for that! If you’re not familiar with the show and think this is a wholesome teenage drama then you might be shocked at some of the language and actions of the characters. Take heed of the warning if you’re a sensitive or conservative person, otherwise you will probably be greatly offended by some of the content in this novel!

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: Fans of the hit show who need their fix between televised seasons.



Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Finding Freia Lockhart by Aimee Said

Finding Freia Lockhart - Aimee Said

Synopsis:
When Freia Lockhart’s best friend, Kate Smith, bonds with one of the coolest girls at school over a lip gloss, Freia doesn’t realise that her entire existence at Westside Girls Grammar is about to change. Given a taste of what it’s like to be popular, Kate is determined to befriend the Bs -Belinda, Bethanee and Brianna- and become just as cool as them. Unfortunately for Freia, the only way she can maintain her friendship with Kate is if she, too, spends time with the Bs (who she doesn’t particularly like). Soon recess and lunchtimes are spent sitting around discussing boys and makeup, and the once-weekly sleepovers have dwindled to once a month.
Things at home aren’t much better, with Freia’s father constantly treating her like a little girl, and her mother regularly consulting her self-help books to ensure that Freia becomes a successful teenager (and doesn’t go into a downward spiral like so many others her age).
To make matters worse, the girls audition for the school musical and convince Freia to try out too, in the hope that they can meet some cute boys from Westside Boys High.
She soon finds herself on the balcony, working as a lighting assistant beside rumoured druggie Daniel ‘Skeletor’ Taylor-Fairchild.
Freia- who has never kissed a boy, let alone talked to one- is suddenly thrust into the deep end when she has to share a confined space with someone who everybody else seems to dislike. But she soon learns that there is more to some people than meets the eye, and begins to question the friendships she has made. Freia has to decide whether she wants to continue being acquainted with the bitchy Bs, or whether she should pursue new friendships, even if she faces derision for them…

What I gained from reading this book:
This book tackles the notion that you can’t always believe what you hear, and this point is covered thoroughly through the tentative friendship between Freia and Daniel (aka Skeletor). Rumours abound where Daniel is involved- his classmates are convinced that he was expelled from his former school for taking drugs, or for bashing up a guy and putting him in hospital. But Freia soon begins to realise that all the rumours are just that- rumours. She discovers that he’s really just a quiet, misunderstood guy whose physical appearance invites ridicule and gossip. Once she gets to know him, she is quick to dismiss everything that has been said about him behind his back.
This novel also covers social hierarchies in the school community. Freia is yet to find her place in the school pecking order. She’s not popular- that honour belongs to the bitchy Bs- but she’s also not at the bottom end of the scale, like quiet Vicky Soong or ‘punk girl’ Siouxsie Sheldon. While Kate is desperate to belong in the upper end of the popularity stakes, even neglecting Freia in order to get there, Vicky and Siouxsie (who are ostracised by the Bs) turn out to be better friends to Freia over the course of the year.
Siouxsie, Vicky and Freia have a lot in common, and although Freia is hesitant in the beginning to form new friendships for fear of getting teased, her need for close companionship soon outweighs her apprehension. These instances are common in everyday life, especially in a school environment. Finding Freia Lockhart teaches us that sometimes people aren’t quite what you expect, and it’s better to get to know a person rather than believe unfounded rumours about them.

Positives:
It takes a while for Freia to break free from the negative influences of the Bs, but when she eventually learns to be her own person, you can’t help but cheer for her.
Her transition- from a shy, awkward girl who has never spoken to a boy, to being a strong-willed, more confident young woman- is gradual, but inspiring nonetheless.

Negatives:
Throughout most of the book, it seems as though Freia barely tolerates her family- she thinks her parents baby her and treat her like a child, by not letting her do what other girls her age are allowed. But when they unexpectedly do the opposite and let her go to parties, she wishes they would say no so she’d have an excuse to avoid going. This contradictory behaviour can get a tad annoying, but I suppose it’s only a natural part of being a teenager (ie, not knowing exactly what you want!)

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: Teenagers who are trying to find their place within the school community but still aren’t sure where they belong.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher

Synopsis:
When Clay Jensen arrives home from school one day, he is surprised to find a plain package, with his name and address scrawled on it, waiting for him. With no sender address listed, and containing seven loose audiotapes (which are numbered), Clay is intrigued by the parcel and decides to listen to the first tape, hoping to uncover the mystery of who sent them to him.
But what Clay hears turns out to be the last thing he ever expected- Hannah Baker, his high school crush, who killed herself two weeks earlier.
On the tape, she explains that there were thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life, and that each of the people who receive the tapes are responsible for playing a part in her death. Clay is one of those people.
All that she requests is that each tape is listened to in full and then sent on to the next person on the list. If somebody doesn’t comply with her rules, then a copy of the tapes (with their incriminating stories) will be released into the public domain for everyone to hear, not just the thirteen people she has chosen.
Anxious to hear Hannah’s voice, and worried about what role he played in her death, Clay gets out the map he received from Hannah in the days before she swallowed the pills and traces her story and his role in it.
Over the course of a night, Clay learns all about what pushed Hannah over the edge, witnessing first-hand the trauma that caused her downward spiral, and learning some hard truths about himself in the process.

What I gained from reading this book:
Asher’s debut novel deals with the delicate topic of teenage suicide, and explores some of the reasons why people might choose this as the ultimate solution to their problems. His portrayal of Hannah, taunted by rumours, passive-aggressive bullying and a strong sensitivity, helps to paint a picture of how one vibrant girl could change so quickly into one whose life spiralled out of control- so much so, that the only way that she could find a way out of it was to kill herself.
This novel also highlights how one negative action can create a snowball to affect the lives of many people, even if the original action seems insignificant at the time.
Most of all, this novel teaches us that small acts of kindness can provide a ray of hope for people who need it most. Even though Hannah commits suicide before this novel even begins, she remembers the kindness that Clay and several other students showed to her. Clay realises this as he listens to the tapes, and, hoping to prevent a repeat of what happened to Hannah, learns to reach out to other people who seem lost, in the hope that he can make a difference. This is something that everyone can learn.

Positives:
The way that the novel is written is clever, with Hannah’s story interspersed with Clay’s own reactions and thoughts. This allows us to see several perspectives at the one time. The author is also able to build up suspense by allowing us to hear Hannah’s story only as Clay hears it, via the tapes. By doing this, it makes us- the readers- feel more involved in Hannah’s drama.

Negatives:
At times, you can’t help but feel that Hannah is overreacting to some of the things she claims had a role in her death. I understand that it’s the build up of these events that culminate in her suicide, and that her experiences weren’t pleasant in any way, but the way that she picks apart every little detail of what happened to her in order to justify her death sometimes seems just a tad over-the-top. Perhaps this is merely a reflection of somebody whose mental state is starting to collapse, but to me it seemed kind of nitpicky.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People looking for a serious teen fiction that deals with complex issues.

If you or someone you know is having problems and you need to talk to somebody, please contact the following help lines:

Kids Help Line (Australia) 1800 55 1800
Lifeline (Australia) 13 11 14
Mental Health Advice Line (Australia) 1300 280 737



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Book Review: Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad

Sweet Little Lies - Lauren Conrad

Synopsis:
It’s three months into the filming of hit reality TV show L.A. Candy, and stars Jane Roberts and Scarlett Harp are facing more problems than they ever thought would be possible.
Jane’s reputation is on the line when a series of racy photos are leaked to a tabloid magazine and published. Taken of Jane with Braden (her boyfriend’s best friend) from her bedroom window, the pictures spell the end of what little privacy Jane has left since landing a role on the show- she is now the paparazzi’s ‘golden girl’, and under constant media surveillance. Hoping to benefit from the extra attention, one of Jane’s co-stars, Madison Parker- under the guise of being a caring friend- attempts to ‘shield’ Jane from the hordes of photographers (and in the process, from her best friend Scarlett). Unfortunately, Scarlett is unable to convince Jane of Madison’s true nature, and they find their friendship at a crossroads.
As Jane struggles to deal with the attention fame brings her, Scarlett is facing her own dilemma- she has fallen for someone who she is contractually forbidden to date, a member of the show’s crew. To keep the newly blossoming romance alive, Scarlett has to keep the relationship secret- not an easy feat when your life is playing out on television screens nation-wide.
With the first season about to wrap up, will Jane and Scarlett’s relationship recover? Or has Hollywood destroyed their fourteen-year friendship forever?

What I gained from reading this book:
In this novel, Jane’s trusting nature makes her an easy target for malicious Madison, who hopes to oust her out of the show and become the leading lady. Madison purposely gets closer to Jane, becoming a confidant and ‘watching her back’, while simultaneously passing on the information she learns to a tabloid magazine that isn’t afraid of twisting the truth to sell more issues. Madison isn’t terribly bothered by the fact that she’s tarnishing Jane’s reputation, and is willing to do almost anything to remove her as competition for the starring role in L.A. Candy. Seeing Madison’s true nature, Scarlett is unable to persuade her best friend Jane to see the truth, and this causes a massive rift in their friendship.
This is not an isolated problem among young women, some of whom form toxic friendships (although they are unaware of it at the time), and find themselves ditching their closest friends as their new friendships grow. This novel acts as a reminder that even though it’s okay to make new friends, it’s not good to ignore the ones you already have (especially if your new friends are intent on destroying your social standing). In other words, true friends can be hard to find, so keep close the ones that you have- they’re the people that will stand by you when you really need them.

Positives:
The storyline for Conrad’s sequel is just as addictive as the original- Jane, Scarlett, Madison and Gaby attend numerous Hollywood parties, fall in love, meet new people (both good and bad), and continue to have their lives flashed across television screens and magazine covers. You can’t help but enjoy the dramas, despite knowing that the producers of L.A. Candy are orchestrating almost everything.

Negatives:
It’s no secret that Hollywood is filled with jealousy, bitching and backstabbing- in fact, it’s renowned for it! You’d think that after all of her experiences, Jane would be less naïve about Hollywood and the people that reside there, but unfortunately, her character is still just as trusting as ever. Even her best friend Scarlett- the person she trusts most- can’t make her see that some of the people they associate with are only trying to cause trouble. I realise its just part of her character makeup, but Jane’s gullibility can be extremely frustrating!

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who read the first L.A. Candy novel and would like to find out what happens next.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Hate List - Jennifer Brown

Synopsis:
When bullied teenager Valerie Leftman, and her boyfriend Nick Levil, create a list of the people and things they hate, it seems like a harmless way to let off steam. But while Valerie finds it satisfying to write down names and things and simply let it rest, Nick has more sinister plans.
May 2, 2008 seems like any other day, but everything changes in the morning before school starts, when Nick opens fire on his classmates in the school cafeteria. Using the Hate List as a guide on who to pick as targets, Nick seeks revenge against his peers in the worst way he knows how, and forever changes the lives of the staff and students of Garvin High School.
Five months later, Valerie (who was shot in the thigh while trying to stop Nick) is about to return to school to complete her senior year.
While officially cleared by the police for any involvement in the shooting, many of Valerie’s classmates believe that she should be held accountable for helping to write the Hate List. Many others believe that she is a hero for stopping her boyfriend, yet she is still socially excluded from the school community. Valerie’s former best friend doesn’t want to be associated with her, and the only person remotely interested in showing any compassion towards her is the girl who she inadvertently saved.
Valerie’s life, already complicated by her guilt following the shooting, is made even more complex by the ever-increasing tension within her family, regular visits to her psychiatrist Dr Hieler, and the love she still holds for her dead boyfriend.
As a result, all Valerie wants to do is forget the horrible events of the past and pretend that none of it ever happened. But to be able to move on with her life and make amends, she first has to come to grips with the tragedy, and her role in it…

What I gained from reading this book:
Unfortunately, school shootings are more common than we would like to admit, especially in America. According to most news articles, the perpetrator is often described as the ‘quiet one’ who ‘no one really knew’, and the victims often can’t believe that something like this could happen in their close-knit community.
This novel subtly challenges the perception that these incidences are not borne simply from mental illness, but are spurred on by the hate and bullying that the shooter is often a victim of beforehand. In the novel, Nick and Valerie are teased mercilessly because they choose to look and act differently to their peers. While this in no way condones shooting people, it does help readers to see that there is often another side to the story, and that the victims of words and taunts are often overlooked when compared to the victims of bullets.

Positives:
Valerie experiences conflicting physical and emotional feelings throughout the novel, and readers can’t help but empathise with what she is going through. The author is brilliant at portraying the trauma and guilt that Valerie feels, as she tries (with the help of Dr Hieler) to put the past behind her and get on with her life.
But her attempts at recovery are dampened by the fact that her family is disintegrating, and that her classmates are directing a mixture of confusion, fear, anger and forgiveness towards her, for her role in the tragedy.
Hate List cannot be considered a shallow or light-reading novel, for the hard-hitting themes and thoughts it provokes.

Negatives:
I honestly couldn’t find anything wrong with the story, but, like I mentioned above, if you’re after a light and easy read, this book is not for you. The themes in the story (ie. School shootings and bullying) could be confronting subject matter for some readers.
But this shouldn’t deter you from reading this otherwise exceptional debut novel.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who are interested in reading about one girl’s journey of guilt and atonement, after circumstances which she couldn’t have prevented.



Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Never Bite A Boy On The First Date by Tamara Summers

Never Bite A Boy On The First Date - Tamara Summers

Synopsis:
Kira November is a sixteen-year-old vampire, secretly living among mortals, and attending her second high school since becoming a vampire one and a half years earlier.
When star football jock, Tex Harrison, is found dead on the front steps of Luna High School, Kira’s family immediately point the blame at her, despite her protestations of innocence. As the second youngest vampire in the ‘family’, and partly responsible for the incident that forced them to leave their previous home, Kira’s reckless reputation means that she is the likely suspect regarding the gruesome murder of her classmate. Determined to clear her name and desperate to avoid getting locked up in a padded coffin by her old-fashioned ‘father’ Wilhelm, Kira sets out to find the real murderer.
Narrowing the suspects down to three cute boys, Kira has to use all her detective skills (which she has learnt from Nancy Drew books and the Veronica Mars television series), to find the culprit. Could it be Rowan, the weird loner who’s clearly hiding something? Or Milo, the sweet and sexy swim team member? Or perhaps it’s Daniel, the new boy in school who seems to shadow Kira wherever she goes…
All Kira knows is, she has to solve the mystery if she doesn’t want to spend the rest of eternity confined in a coffin.

What I gained from reading this book:
After she died and was turned into a vampire, Kira was adopted by four adult vampires- Wilhelm (her ‘father’), Olympia (her ‘mother’), Crystal (her ‘sister’), and Crystal’s husband Bert, and they taught her how to cope with being one of the undead. Zach was a later addition to the family, but he too was taught how to control the blood urges and re-integrate into society as a ‘human’. Kira explains in the novel how vampires who create others like them are obligated to take the new vampires under their wing and therefore avoid any disasters or suspicious human deaths. While the blood-drinking part doesn’t apply to us, I think that similar honour codes to this, as well as a strong sense of familial obligation, are important factors to remember in every day society. If everybody treats each other with respect and helps others in need, the world will be a much better place.

Positives:
Kira is a refreshing change, compared to the dark and moody characters of other teenage vampire novels. While she isn’t exactly enamoured with the idea of being a vampire and drinking blood, it’s for reasons entirely original- she was a vegetarian for four months before her death and thinks blood is ‘disgusting’. She also hates that she can’t check herself out in the mirror and has to have her makeup done for her by her ‘sister’. These normal teenage characteristics, plus her witty retorts, make her into an appealing person that you can’t help but like.

Negatives:
The ending. It’s not too bad, but I want to know what happened to some of the other characters. It feels as though the author took the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach with them, which leaves you wondering how the characters of Rowan and Milo are coping with what happened to them towards the end of the novel.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: Teenagers looking for a tongue-in-cheek novel that has everything- humour, a murder-mystery, romance, action, and (of course) vampires!

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Crank - Ellen Hopkins

Synopsis:
It’s been eight years since Kristina Snow last saw her dad. When she is given the opportunity to spend her summer holidays with him, Kristina jumps at the chance to spend quality time with the man who she once considered the ‘Prince of Albuquerque’, despite her mother’s wishes. But on her arrival in Reno, she is confronted with a father who is totally different to what she expected- the strong, loving father she remembers from childhood has been replaced by a drinking, drug-taking layabout. Desperate to reconnect with her dad, and intensely interested in Buddy, the young man who lives in an apartment downstairs, Kristina finds herself embracing her dark side, going by the name of Bree and partaking in activities that shy Kristina would never consider. While in this state of emotional unbalance, fearless Bree starts taking crank- crystal meth- and quickly becomes addicted to the rush that it brings her. Soon, crank starts to take over her life, and before she knows it, good girl Kristina has receded into the shell of her body, and is ruled by the destructive Bree, in need of her next fix.
As Kristina/ Bree’s addiction grows, and she disassociates herself from her family and friends, she begins to realise why people call crank ‘the monster’, and struggles to find a way to get herself back on track. But the monster is always there, and it’s a difficult demon to ignore…

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel delves into the dark world of drugs, booze and sex, but what makes it all the more challenging to comprehend is that this is experienced by a sixteen-year-old girl. Crank is loosely based on real-life events that occurred in Hopkins’ daughter’s life as she became addicted to the drug, and turned into a virtual stranger to those who know and love her. The sad thing is, this is probably not an isolated story, with many teenagers facing similar concerns as their substance abuse grows out of control.
In the novel, the character of Kristina is a model student, and rarely finds herself in trouble. But on her trip to Reno to visit her dad, she unleashes her darker side- Bree- who is sitting on the sidelines and just waiting to cause problems. Living in a place where she is an unknown, meeting a sexy bad boy, and realising that she has glorified her father in her memories, Kristina recreates herself as Bree as a way of coping with all the sudden changes. When she is introduced to the monster, she is more than happy to jump right in and try something new- even if it is potentially risky- in order to gain respect from the new people in her life.
This sort of damaging behaviour sets the tone for how the rest of the novel plays out. Readers become aware, through reading the verses, that addiction to an illicit substance such as crank changes everything in a person’s life, and affects more than just the person taking the drug.

Positives:
Although I’m not usually a fan of poetry, this verse novel had me hooked. Kristina/ Bree’s story drew me in and I found I couldn’t put the book down- I wanted to find out what she would do next to get out of her predicaments.

Negatives:
Kristina’s alter ego Bree- a strong and vibrant character- is also very destructive. As her addiction to the drug grows, Bree’s actions get progressively worse, resulting in a novel that is recommended for those aged 14 and up, due to its content. This book would probably not be a good choice for people who hold more conservative opinions about human behaviour, or for those who struggle to emphasise with a young person who has fuelled her own demons.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who are interested in reading a verse novel that is addictive as the subject matter.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Extras by Scott Westerfeld

SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT.
WARNING: The contents of this review may give away some of the major plotlines within the series. Do not continue reading if you want to be pleasantly surprised by the book.

Extras - Scott Westerfeld

Synopsis:
It has been several years since Tally Youngblood brought down the social segregation system that divided uglies, pretties and specials.
Now, people live in a society that is no longer governed by strict regulations that force everybody to be ‘brain-missing’. Instead, people are embracing their individuality- taking on crazy surgery and trends in order to be the person that stands out the most amongst their peers.
Although Aya Fuse is only fifteen years old, she, too, wishes to raise her popularity rank and become famous. With a rank numbering just under 500,000, Aya is considered a nobody- or extra- by the rich and famous. She dreams of becoming a famous kicker (a type of amateur journalist), and in a city where the main currency is popularity (which can buy you anything you desire), Aya has great aspirations to find a story that will propel her to stardom. Although she has kicked many small stories, along with her faithful hovercam Moggle, Aya just hasn’t been able to get her big break.
That is, of course, until she meets the Sly Girls- a group of extras whose main aim is to pull crazy stunts but remain anonymous. Long considered an urban myth, the mystery surrounding the clique would be enough to boost her rank significantly. But then Aya and the girls uncover a secret that could change the course of history and put all of them in danger.
In her eagerness to kick the biggest story of the millennium, Aya could soon become more famous than she ever imagined possible. But will her story also put the world, as she knows it, at risk?

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel is all about fame, celebrity, and society’s perceptions of self-worth. Aya is only fifteen years old, but she aspires to be in the top one thousand people of her city- a difficult feat considering that at the start of the novel, she is ranked at the lowly number of 451, 369. Her city, which awards its citizens according to their popularity in society, creates a different type of hierarchy to the uglies/pretties/specials system, which separated the ‘elite’ from the ‘non elite’. But in reality, this system is not much better, as it incites people to go to extremes in order to boost their popularity. This is obvious through people’s behaviour, especially when they undergo surgery in order to look as ‘out there’ as humanly possible. The kickers also go to extreme lengths to find crazy stories, hoping that they will be able to make a name for themselves in their ever-competitive society. Through the introduction of characters like the Sly Girls, the author highlights the absurdity of fame, and shows that that you don’t need to have a high status in society to be worthy of attention from your peers.

Positives:
Because Aya never experienced the brain lesions, and has only learnt about them at school, it means that a new perspective is thrown on the events of the previous novels. Adding to that is the fact that she is Japanese, and therefore not even of the same culture as Tally Youngblood. This means that readers are able to see how Tally’s actions have spread across the world, and allows them to see how each country has reacted to these changes.

Negatives:
People who are expecting this novel to be similar in style to the previous three books may be slightly disappointed. Although Extras is considered part of the series, and features some of the characters from the other books, it also has its differences. Aya’s story is nothing like Tally’s- it is more about Aya’s quest to kick a fabulous story and join the social elite, rather than forge her own individuality, as Tally’s was.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who are eager to read the fourth book in the ‘trilogy’, and find out about how life changed after Tally’s exploits.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Specials by Scott Westerfeld

SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT.
WARNING: The contents of this review may give away some of the major plotlines within the series. Do not continue reading if you want to be pleasantly surprised by the book.

Specials - Scott Westerfeld

Synopsis:
Tally Youngblood has become one of the creatures she most feared as an ugly and a pretty- she is now a special.
Biologically enhanced so that her senses are superior and her reflexes amazingly fast, Tally’s body is now streamlined with strong new muscles, and unbreakable ceramic bones, ensuring that her superiority over everybody else is complete. Along with her physical reconditioning, Tally’s latest operation has given her the opportunity to remain clear-headed while she attempts to hunt down the New Smokies and destroy their rebellious camp.
As a member of the Cutters- a group of young specials who have their own set of rules- Tally, along with Shay, is programmed to locate and eradicate the New Smokies, who are threatening to cure the pretties of their brain lesions with a vast supply of Maddy’s pills. As a special, Tally cannot allow that to happen, especially considering the dangerous problems that her boyfriend Zane experienced when he took the pills. But it appears that the Smokies have strong allies, who have given them access to things that they previously couldn’t get, and which enable them to reach an even broader section of society.
The only way that Tally can negotiate this new development is to use a group of pretties as ‘bait’ and uncover the Smokies’ hideout. But the plan doesn’t go as well as she hopes, and she soon finds herself questioning the mission that she is programmed to complete. Will the world be safe from destruction if all pretties are clear-headed? Can uglies and pretties really live in cohesion? And if the Cutters’ mission fails, what will happen to the world as she knows it?

What I gained from reading this book:
As a special, Tally Youngblood finally feels as though she’s found her place in life. As an ugly she felt inferior, while being a pretty was fine until she rediscovered the truth about the brain lesions (that turn all pretties into bubbleheads). As a special, Tally not only belongs to a clique known as the Cutters- who share a special bond through aspects of their creation- but she is also faster, stronger and physically more superior than the rest of the people living in her city.
The one drawback, however, can be found in the actions that gave her clique their nickname- members cut their arms, and some even brand themselves with hot firebrands, in order to feel ‘icy’. This self-harming behaviour gives them adrenaline rushes that keep their minds clear, but is also representative of the destructive path that the Cutters are taking by acting as ‘soldiers’ of the city- they can only get their release by hurting themselves.
Similarly to the Cutters in the novel, there are some people nowadays who cut themselves as a way of coping with their daily lives. Many of these people do not stop until they get the support that they need- support that can be found in close friends and family. In the novel, Tally does not feel compelled to stop until Zane makes her promise that she will end her self-harming ways.
In this way, the author is sending a message by encouraging people to speak up and help friends and family who are dealing with destructive behaviour.

Positives:
This novel introduces even more technology that enables the uglies, pretties and specials to function in society. Sneaksuits, which camouflage their wearer and therefore render them almost invisible to the naked eye, are just one of the author’s many creations that further enhance the futuristic feel of the series.

Negatives:
Unlike the first two books, where it is easy to relate to Tally and her adventures, Specials seems more detached. Perhaps this is representative of Tally’s new persona- as a cool, calm and collected special- but it also makes it more difficult for readers to share in what Tally feels, and justify her actions as a ruthless machine intent on stamping out the rebels of the New Smoke.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who want to find out what happens to Tally and all the other characters from the previous novels.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Pretties - Scott Westerfeld

Synopsis:
It has been months since Tally Youngblood returned to New Pretty Town, and underwent the operation that changed her from an ugly into a pretty.
Since then, she has been reunited with her old friends Peris and Shay, and been introduced to an exclusive clique named the Crims, whose main prerequisite for joining is having completed daring feats as uglies. With Tally’s tricky experiences far outweighing those of her fellow pretties, she has more than earned the right to join the gang, under the leadership of the handsome Zane.
But while she is happy to be incredibly attractive, have fabulous clothes, and a large group of friends, Tally can’t help but feel that something is missing.
When Tally runs into an ugly from her past, she rediscovers the truth about the operation and New Pretty Town, which the operation has partially erased from her memory. As her memories return, she is determined to have her old, clear-headed life back.
But first she has to combat her guilt after remembering her betrayal of the Smokies, find the New Smokies hideout, and convince the Crims that leaving the city is the best thing that they will ever do in their entire lives.
However, doing that while keeping the elite Special Circumstances team from learning of her plans is easier said than done…

What I gained from reading this book:
In this novel, Tally encounters people from various ‘cultures’, and she has to learn to adapt to their ways of life- rather than the comforts she is used to- in order to survive.
Having lived as a Smokey with David and the rest of the runaway community, Tally has had some experience in living in the wild and surviving from the land.
But when she comes across a group of people who seem to have escaped from the sights of Special Circumstances, she discovers that her life with the Smokies was far more urban than she imagined. The villagers of the place she discovers are primitive in their beliefs and theories, live in a blood feud with other outsiders, and see the pretties as Gods who must be obeyed otherwise harm will befall them. This is in stark contrast to the Smokies, who, while in awe of the beauty of the pretties, certainly don’t deify them, and have never engaged in murder for the sake of avenging people killed in the past.
While this kind of situation is not prevalent in today’s society, similar circumstances have played out in the past, in the form of one ‘superior’ race of people exerting their authority over another’s. This has also occurred in third-world countries where people from more well-off countries have challenged people’s primitive beliefs, and attempted to treat them as test-subjects for various anthropological studies.

Positives:
The action scenes in this novel are more intense, as Tally fights to remember what she once learnt, and tries to regain what she has lost in her new life as a pretty. As a pretty, Tally gets involved in even more dangerous stunts than when she was an ugly, and readers who enjoyed the action last time will be even more impressed this time around.

Negatives:
Pretty language can become quite annoying at times, even if it is representative of the vacant-mindedness of the pretties. Readers will probably get sick of reading words like bubbly and bogus, and will get annoyed at seeing –missing and –making tacked on to normal words, turning them into phrases that the pretties would use.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People eager to see the cliffhanger from the first Uglies book resolved.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld

Synopsis:
The world is a bleak place unless you’re attractive, and for Tally Youngblood, nothing is further from the truth as she awaits her sixteenth birthday, and the compulsory operation that will change her from an ugly into a pretty.
With the operation, Tally will finally be accepted into society and be able to spend time with her old friends, all of whom have been changed, and moved from the dorms of Uglyville to the mansions of New Pretty Town.
A few months before the operation, Tally meets another ugly named Shay, who shares the same birthday, teaches her how to ride a hoverboard, and keeps her company during the lonely months. The two are almost inseparable, teaching each other tricks and going on expeditions out of Uglyville and into the great unknown.
But Shay is hesitant about becoming a pretty, and when she runs away, Tally is confronted by a group of authorities known only as Special Circumstances, who give her an ultimatum: find Shay and turn her in, or never turn pretty.
Now Tally has a difficult choice to make, especially when she discovers that Shay is not the only runaway and to turn her in will destroy an entire community that has survived away from the corruption of the big cities. But if she doesn’t betray her friend, how will she ever be pretty?

What I gained from reading this book:
Beautiful people often seem to get through life a lot easier than people whose looks are less aesthetically pleasing. But this novel takes the concept of ‘winning beauty’ to a new extreme, where anybody who looks normal and hasn’t been operated on by their sixteenth birthday is termed ‘ugly’.
What’s more, there is a type of brainwashing going on that ensures that the divide between pretties and uglies continues to grow. Uglies are made to feel unimportant and are taught that they will only fit into society properly after they are made pretty.
The ironic thing is, according to the pretties, the operation was created so that there would be less discrimination between people who looked different. Yet, the pretties are obviously considered the elite in the world that Westerfeld has created.
This novel ridicules the ideas of social aesthetics, and helps people to realise that being different from others is actually better than looking the same as every other person in the world. Through Uglies, Westerfeld is trying to teach his readers to embrace their individuality.

Positives:
The idea for the storyline is brilliant and really makes you question the world in which Tally and her friends live in. It is also interesting to watch the relationships between Tally, Shay and young leader David shift and change as each learns new things about themselves and the values they hold.

Negatives:
Westerfeld has created a futuristic world very similar to our own, except that technology is a lot more advanced than what we’re familiar with. So why, with all the creativity flowing through this novel, has he decided to call the home of the uglies Uglyville? And the home of the pretties New Pretty Town? Of course he could have named the townships this to reflect on the lack of imagination the Pretties have, but the names still seem kind of dull in comparison to what they could have been called.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: Anyone who wonders what the world would be like if everyone was beautiful.



Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead

SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT. SERIES SPOILER ALERT.
WARNING: The contents of this review may give away some of the major plotlines within the series. Do not continue reading if you want to be pleasantly surprised by the book.

Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis:
St Vladmir’s Academy is still in shock after the horrifying Strigoi attack that claimed so many lives and destroyed any illusions of safety that the Moroi and Dhampirs once held.
But for Rose Hathaway, the attack has changed her outlook on life forever.
The man that she loves, guardian Dimitri Belikov, has been unwillingly turned into a Strigoi, and Rose knows that the only way that she can deal with his ‘death’ is to hunt him down and destroy him, just as they promised one another they would do in the event that something like this happened. But in leaving America and travelling to Russia to find Dimitri, Rose must leave behind her best friend Lissa Dragomir, whose life is quickly becoming unstable. Along with her new friend Avery, and against the wishes of her boyfriend Christian, Lissa starts to participate in reckless and unusual behaviour as a way of coping with her sudden abandonment, especially as the side effects of using her magical power, spirit, grow.
As Lissa’s wayward activities start to get out of control, Rose travels through unfamiliar country and meets many new people- some who are willing to help, some who have no choice but to help, and some who hold an ulterior motive for helping Rose achieve her goals.
But when Rose finally finds Dimitri, will she be able to carry out her plans and find closure? And what if Dimtri doesn’t want to be ‘saved’?

What I gained from reading this book:
This novel deals primarily with grief and highlights people’s ways of coping with the sudden loss of a loved one (even if that loved one isn’t necessarily ‘dead’, as in Rose and Dimitri’s case).
Rose knows that Dimitri is an evil Strigoi, and that his previously good demeanour is now destroyed, but she can’t help but remember him as he once was. After seeing him as a Strigoi, she manages to convince herself that there is still good inside him, and that he still loves her in the same way that he did as a Dhampir. These assumptions soften her resolve to kill him, as she originally set out to do.
Dimitri uses Rose’s grief to manipulate her into not fighting back, and attempts to convince her that her life will be changed for the better if she joins him as a Strigoi.
Furthermore, her lingering memories, and her realisation that killing the man she loves will be harder on her heart than she previously thought, make Rose’s task of destroying Dimitri even more difficult. Despite their promises to one another that they would rather be dead than a Strigoi, Rose discovers that the reality is difficult to cope with, and finds herself straying from her suicidal vendetta in the hope of recovering the love she has lost.
People cope with their grief in different ways, and the characters in Blood Promise are no different. While Rose’s mother deals with the deaths in the strong dry-eyed manner that is expected of her, her daughter is unable to shake away the memories that remain. She feels that she must destroy Dimitri so he can finally rest in peace, and so that she can find a sense of closure. While most people wouldn’t have to deal with this scenario, it just goes to show that coping with grief and finding closure can come in many different forms.

Positives:
The inner turmoil that Rose faces among the Dhampirs is perfectly juxtaposed with the outer turmoil that Lissa portrays to the other Moroi, as both struggle with their issues. Although this doesn’t sound especially positive, it shows how the girls act when they are apart from each other and have to deal with their difficulties alone, which further enhances the plot.

Negatives:
We are introduced to many new characters in this novel; but unfortunately, do not get to fully explore their personalities and capabilities. Hopefully they will reappear further on in the series, otherwise I’ll be quite disappointed. Their presence adds a new dimension to the storylines.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who read the previous book, who are looking forward to finding out how Rose will cope with facing her worst nightmare.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Life On The Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

Life On The Refrigerator Door - Alice Kuipers

Synopsis:
Claire is a teenager, growing up with a single, hardworking mother, whose job in the natal ward of the hospital keeps her away from home at irregular hours.
As a way of keeping in touch, Claire and her mother leave notes for each other on the refrigerator door. Containing everything from mundane shopping lists, requests for money, and reminders about looking after their pet rabbit Peter, to important events that are approaching (such as school tests and invitations from friends), the notes are one of the only forms of communication that the duo have with one another.
It isn’t until Claire’s mother finds a lump in her breast that she and Claire make more of an effort to spend time with one another. But even then, daily life gets in the way, especially when Claire meets her first love, and begins to mature as a young adult.
As Mom’s sickness grows, the routines of their lives become formulated around trips to the doctor, relationship woes, and selfish ‘mother-daughter’ fights, but the notes on the refrigerator continue, even if their tone starts to become disheartening.
Even though Mom’s cancer is slowly making her physically weak, Claire and Mom’s love for one another only strengthens, and the two do their best to cope with Mom’s illness together.

What I gained from reading this book:
Rarely home at the same time, due to work, babysitting or school commitments, Claire and Mom are always rushing around, never having enough time to spend with one another. It isn’t until Mom is diagnosed with breast cancer that the duo realise that their time with one another is going to be dramatically cut short, and they begin to make more time for family. This is a very familiar scenario, and one that is common in most busy households- everyone is always rushing around and thinking of themselves and what they have to do during the day, rather than focusing on the time that they could be spending with loved ones. Most people take for granted the fact that when they get home at night, their family will be there and waiting for them.
In this novel, Claire learns the hard way that this is not always the case.
Even though the events in Life On The Refrigerator Door occur over one year, Claire and Mom’s time is still cut short- their busy schedules dictate their lives and they rarely have the chance to sit and talk to one another, until it’s almost too late. This novel serves as a reminder that we should always try to make time for our loved ones, and tell them that we love them, because who knows what could happen tomorrow?

Positives:
If people are looking for a quick but heartfelt read, this is it. Because each note has it’s own page in the book, and many of the notes are short, readers are able to quickly read their way through the novel. But even though it doesn’t take long to read, the storyline is just as sad and thought provoking as any you’d find in a longer novel.

Negatives:
One of the problems with this story being told in notes format is that the reader is not privy to the events that occur outside of the notes that Claire and her mother leave for each other. Although we, as the readers, are happy when the busy duo finally spends time together, it means that we don’t know what’s happening in their lives unless they mention what has happened in their subsequent notes. Of course, these comments won’t be in full detail just for our benefit, so an air of mystery surrounds the characters’ actions and personal thoughts (although this isn’t necessarily a bad thing).

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who may need a reminder that spending time with family and loved ones is important. The things you take for granted can disappear when you least expect it.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy # 3) by Richelle Mead

Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis:
Rose Hathaway is still trying to recover from the traumatic events that occurred only three weeks earlier- she witnessed the cold-blooded murder of one of her close friends at the hands of the Strigoi who captured them, and got her first molnija marks, as a sign of having slain several Strigoi.
However, all of these events have begun to build up for Rose, and focusing on normal everyday life is difficult. When the Guardian novices face their field experience orientation, and have to protect their selected Moroi student for six weeks, Rose is determined to do her very best. She is a strong-willed person who is dedicated to becoming a Guardian and she is not going to let a traumatic experience mar her commitment to the job.
Meanwhile, Rose’s best friend Lissa is getting off the meds and will be once again able to access her magic, and sexy Guardian instructor Dimitri is still working on campus, and getting Rose all hot and bothered.
But there are dark forces surrounding St Vladmir’s Academy, and Rose discovers that she is the only one who is able to see the ghostly shadows wandering the campus.
With danger looming and a large-scale Strigoi attack imminent, Rose finds herself having to choose between life and love, and the two people she cares most about…

What I gained from reading this book:
Spirituality and faith are covered a little bit in this novel, as well as the concept of fortune and how it can be shaped by one’s actions.
After Rose starts to see ‘ghosts’, she begins to question her sanity, but she also delves into the spiritual side of life to try and determine whether the ‘ghosts’ she sees are trying to give her a message, in order to find peace, or if they are out for revenge like she previously assumed.
This course of thought also makes her consider her own death and ‘rebirth’ at the hands of Lissa, and makes her wonder whether being shadow-kissed is the reason why only she can sense the dead and the messages that they are trying to communicate.
Rose, Lissa and Dimitri also visit a fortuneteller in this novel, whose predictions cast a shadow over the events in the story, and Rose encounters strange premonitions from an old feeder named Alice as she accompanies Christian to his meals.
These moments, interspersed with some church scenes, make this novel ‘deeper’ than the previous two, and show how Rose is maturing in her views towards faith, especially in times of ill fortune.

Positives:
It’s so romantic reading of Rose and Dimitri’s blossoming but ultimately forbidden love. These moments are especially highlighted during their quiet interludes together, which often occur between the action sequences in the novel.

Negatives:
I don’t know if it’s just the copies that I’ve been reading or if it’s more of a widespread problem but I’ve found quite a few spelling and grammar mistakes in this novel and the previous two books. Although this has nothing to do with the storyline, I find it quite irritating.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who enjoyed the action of the previous novel in the series, only this time it’s on a darker level.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Book Review: Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead

Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis:
It has been some time since Rose Hathaway found herself face-to-face with a Strigoi, and things are only just starting to get back to normal for her at St Vladmir’s Academy. Still attending daily training sessions with her handsome Guardian mentor Dimitri, Rose is determined to eliminate any weaknesses she may have against her biggest enemies, the Strigoi, with the intention of destroying them and protecting her best friend Lissa Dragomir.
However, when a large family of Moroi royals are found slain, along with their Guardians, all previous notions that the Guardians held of the Strigoi are challenged. It looks as though a whole group of Strigoi have worked together, a concept previously unheard of due to their violent natures, and it looks as though they have had outside help in carrying out their murderous ways.
With the Christmas holidays approaching, and as a way of keeping the families united during the break, the Academy decides to schedule a ski trip at an Idaho resort where all families are invited, hoping to keep the Moroi safe from any unforeseen dangers.
But while the Academy students and their families enjoy their trip, news breaks that another royal family has been attacked and killed.
Three students, frustrated about the lack of action being taken by the Guardians, decide to go and fight back against the Strigoi, and it’s up to Rose and Christian Ozera to put aside their mutual dislikes of one another and go to rescue them.
But the students are in more danger than they realise, and one of them won’t make it out alive…

What I gained from reading this book:
One of the themes in this novel is relationships, and how external forces can affect them. Rose’s friend Mason has a big crush on her, and wants to be more than friends, and for a while, Rose ignores it, preferring to focus her attention on her attraction to Dimitri. But when Dimitri starts seeing somebody else, Rose decides to give Mason a chance, and even though she likes him, she finds herself unable to give him her full attention. Rose’s relationship with her estranged mother Janine is also difficult. Her mother’s sudden return into her life, even if it’s just to accompany the family she protects, means that Rose is suddenly forced to look at why her mother is less maternal than others and yet so successful as a Guardian. She learns a lot about her mother, and through the process, about herself as a person.
Most people have relationships with others where, like Rose, they are ignored by those who should be close to them, or revered by those who they are not entirely interested in. Reading of Rose’s interactions with her mother, Dimitri and Mason help to make more sense of these relationships, and highlight any familiar interactions that readers may face with people in their own lives.

Positives:
There is a lot more action in this novel, whether Rose is learning how to stab a vampire in the heart with a silver stake, facing off with the evil Strigoi or even performing aerial skiing stunts to impress Mason. These actions give the story an exciting edge.

Negatives:
Rose and Lissa’s friendship, while still strong, is not as noticeable in this novel as it was in the previous one. Their friendship seems to take a backseat to the love life of Rose, and the Guardians’ clashes with the Strigoi.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who want to find out what happens to Rose and Lissa after the first Vampire Academy novel.

Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below: