A YA novel with real substance
932064
The Verdict: Ellies just your typical high schooler. Shes involved in improv, crushing on a guy, planning for college, and at odds with her dad. Just your normal girl, right? But just as everything is going her way, she finds out she has cancerand absolutely everything changes.

A Messy Beautiful Life is in some ways just another YA romance, but its that added bit of harsh reality and teenage wonder that makes it amazing. Ellies entire life is turned upside down, her relationships within her family change and grow, and she doesnt want to drag Jason (the crush who likes her back) down into her drama. Theres no time that cancer is a good thing, but when it hits in those years that you're supposed to be looking toward the future, not just fighting to have one at all, its an especially unjust burden. But for all its heaviness, the book isn't all darkness and angst. Its about friends who won't let her forget how to laugh, a boy who brings that magic of young love even in the worst of times, and a girl who views her place in the world with all the fear and hope and wonder that so many teens feel but spend too much time ignoring.

I half expected A Messy Beautiful Life to be a huge downer, something I might have to push myself to finish reading. The whole cancer bit can really throw a story off (I suppose much like it does in life, right?). But Ellie was actually a fun character, despite the awful hand she was dealt. Her relationships with the different members of her family were realistic, and the way they changed when cancer struck added more depth to Ellie and all the characters around her  something thats often missing in stories about girls her age.

Overall, A Messy Beautiful Life was a surprisingly realistic but hopeful read, outlining both the importance of will and the support of friends when facing lifes most terrible obstacles  and emphasizing that you don't have to lose who you are when you're dealing with the worst. I hesitate to call it a fluffy, feel-good read, given the subject matter, but thats the feeling I walked away with after reading the last page. If you love young adult novels but want something with substance, A Messy Beautiful Life is the way to go.

*FicCentral received a free copy of this book from Entangled Publishing (via NetGalley)
1076923
If you're looking for a smart teen novel full of horror and heart, this is it. Clarissa is the kind of strong (and strong-willed) female lead you want to see more of in YA novels, the kind of teenager you would want to know in real life. Clarissa isn't without her faults and is kind of a pushy friend, but that is what makes her feel so real. I'm a teen librarian and I wouldn't hesitate to put this in the hands of one of my teens.
1637794
This enjoyable book includes fantasy, magic, and eccentric, but loveable characters that are very real and that the reader cares about.  I didn't want the book to end.  This novel defies classification.  I thought it would be another "Gormenghast" (it isn't) or a picaresque comedy like "Tristam Shandy" (it's not).  It is a young adult novel, as the plot centers around a couple of teens struggling to grow up in trying circumstances.  But unlike many YA books, it doesn't talk down to kids and displays a large and varied vocabulary. And sometimes (not always) the teens are wiser than the adults. The audience for this novel isn't limited to teen readers.  I'm not young, but I really enjoyed the book.  I can't wait for the next book, which I understand will be published in a few months.
4527574
Just finished 99 Days, and like Cotugno's other book (How to Love), it's full of engaging characters in complicated, wholly realistic/modern YA situations.  The writing is very accessible, and it's easy to identify with Cotugno's female narrators.  I honestly didn't know which couple to "root" for in this interesting triangle, so the ending was not easy to predict.  I especially enjoyed the subplots with the resort owners and the exploration of YA female friendships.  No cliches or flat characters here; it's smart YA fiction that'll make you think: about family dynamics, about the risks and rewards of young romance, and what it takes to navigate today's morally challenging landscape.
1408723
This book came highly recommended so I decided to give it a try.

Pretty Amy is a coming of age YA novel about Amy, a graduating senior who is hanging out with the wrong crowd~ beautiful Lila and trash talking Cassie. Amy finally feels like she fits in, but during a fateful prom night her life changes forever, and she has to finally grow up.

This novel is well written and while Amy is hard to like sometimes because of her bitterness, anger and frustration, we somehow get the sense she'll turn around at the end. I loved her parrot AJ and liked Conner.

The difficulty with novels such as this is that this is material we've all seen before. Teenage angst and a troublemaker who eventually sees the light through tough love. And there are some romance issues in the background. I recently sat in on a group of child psychiatrists who were talking about words they used to describe teenagers. These descriptives included overconfident, hormonal, defiant, experimental---all which were shown in this novel to the tee. The difficulty is going beyond the expected. I immediately compared this novel to Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver which remains one of my favorite novels. These two novels have a very similar beginning-- but the books are vastly different in the way the material was handled. Unfortunately, while this book has many strong points, it does little to get out of the stereotype. However, the voice of Cassie is what is unique and gripping, and that is what carries the reader to stay until the end.

That said, this is a strong first novel. While there were no surprises, it was well written and flowed nicely with good characterization.
1076175
This was a very good that is suitable for the YA audience.  There is some violence, but it is not graphic.  It has a wonderful underlying message about the importance of believing in yourself and accepting your flaws.  The characters and the world are so realistic its hard to believe this is a first novel.  It s filled with all sorts of magical creatures, fairies, witches, pixies, magicians; some good, some bad and some, I hope that are just mistaken.
3184182
I have a soft spot for YA novels about teenage writers, especially novels where the MC's stories begin colliding with their reality. When Scarlett's favorite TV show is canceled, she turns to writing about her real-life classmates because she's too bummed to write fanfic. Although the story-within-a-story format doesn't come across as very engaging here, and I would've liked to see Scarlett's peers discover that she was using them as fiction fodder a little earlier, I still found a lot to like about this.

Scarlett's insights into suburban life were unexpectedly clever, even if they weren't exactly humorous, and her voice leapt off the page. I loved that she wasn't a shrinking violet, and that she pushed back against people who treated her badly. Between her hard-working but immature mom, her brainiac best friend, and her secretly nerdy former friend turned crush who turns popular, there weren't all that many truly original characters in Scarlett's world. And honestly, I didn't care one bit.

What made this story shine for me was the idea that everyone has hidden depths, and Scarlett's friends and family are no exception. All of them have layers of hopes and dreams beyond what Scarlett sees or knows, and watching her uncover those layers was wonderful. There are any number of stories about quirky, outcast teenagers who believe that they're superior to the people around them as a way to cope with feeling excluded. It was really, really refreshing to read about a character who learns to come down off her high horse, stop over-simplifying the people around her, and accept that being less judgmental and more inclusive might actually make her more friends.
1503487
Laura K Aniles Beyond Time is the first book in an action-filled YA series. In this volume, 17 year old Ryder Worthington is on his way to school when he encounters a pair of bullies. One moment hes in the midst of a fight, but excruciating pain suddenly takes him out, and the next thing he knows he wakes up  112 years in the future  in someone elses body.

Trapped in the body of Ziron  the young man who has apparently senselessly jeapardised his whole life to change places with the boy from the past  Ryder must keep the secret of his altered identity from everyone but the two scientists behind the experimental time-shifting tecyhnology. This is almost impossible in a future where the world has been all but destroyed by a catalclysmic war, where the chasm between the haves and have-nots is huge and rebellion against the controlling government is boiling over.

Ryder ends up tangled in the rebellion, falling in love with someone who thinks hes Ziron and developing a strained friendship (when they're not enemies) with Jet  who is also a rival for Kiras attentions.

Beyond Time is snappily paced and builds a bleak but believable world. More could be made of it, I think, but the parts we see are distinctive. Ryders attempts to blend in and make sense of his new surroundings are understandably full of slips, particularly as he gets drawn deeper and deeper in to a very dangerous situation. The consequences of discovery, hes told, could be deadly, but since every turn holds a deadly secret and so many lives are at stake, there are plenty of heart-stopping moments for Ryder and the reader alike.

The teenage posturing between Ryder and Jet over Kiras affections borders on the wearing, but just as its getting way too annoying, one or both of them shows a little maturity and real care and respect for Kira, which seems a pretty realistic way of portraying teenage rivals in love slowly learning how to grow up.

Kira is a bit too perfect and, for someone who shows she can handle herself well, a bit passive at times, but the core of a good character is there. The fact that shes seen through Ryders first-person, besotted eyes naturally paints her more as a subject of adoration, and I hope she gets to shine a bit more in upcoming books.

The young boy, Tom, who befriends Ryder/Ziron (after a fractious beginning) is easily the most sympathetic character, and this younger boy is often the voice of reason when Jet and Ryder get too argy-bargy in their rivalry.

All of these relationships and clashes are happening with a backdrop of rebellion against an unfair system, many mysteries around Ryders real identity and the motivations of the time-shifted Ziron, Jets difficult past, Kiras concern for her mysteriously vanished father, Dr Tanaka, and the biggest mystery of all  what happens to the people who have won the lottery to get passage out of this failing world and into Paradise.

The story is very readable, though a bit clunky in  parts. A tighter edit could help the story along (and a few typos and errors sneak in on occasion) but otherwise the text flows easily, and Anile keeps up a brisk pace. Im looking forward to the second novel of the series, to see how Ryders teetering secrets and the big reveal in the last chapter will affect both the teenagers who are starting to grow up and the harsh world in which they live.
535226
This YA novel dealing with rebellious teens, drug use and teen pregnancy is a surprisingly entertaining read. And though hits a lot of a big issues, Nolan keeps it easy to read, and maintains a fast pace, but though younger readers will be capable of reading it, it is probably a book best left for the older end of the YA market. Its Maine, summer camp setting sets a fun and familiar background. And for the most part, this book actually has a quite authentic and genuine feel to it. There are a few implausibilities scattered throughout (particularly towards the end), but nothing that spoils the book. The end feels a bit abrupt, but it is an emotionally absorbing read that will keep readers reaching for the tissues.
724204
This book really opened my eyes as to what YA fiction can be.  It's meaty.  It's well-told.  It's well-researched (both in the techniques and concerns of being a visual artist, and in what it's like to be part of the music scene), smart, and extremely human.  Leveen does a good job with the female protagonist, who is compelling and a little flawed, and the voice of the whole thing is a lot of fun.  Although not central to the storyline, body image issues are dealt with positively here.  Definitely read this book.
1169799
For fans of the fantasy genre, this is a great YA novel. The plot is well done and has some good twists. I was particularly impressed by the lead female character who is strong but vulnerable, beautifully described but not overly sexualized or idealized.  The writing itself has some common problems like repetitive analogies, and awkward wording. I look forward to reading more from this author as she gets more polished in her craft.
956297
I would like to thanks the author personally for 1) giving me the book for free at a facebook event, 2) Helping me getting even more sleep deprived.
I couldn't put that book down until I was totally finished with it. It has everything I like in a YA fiction and all at the right place. And except for the usual love at first side found in YA books it didn't have any of the things I usually complain about.
This book takes you in the life of Heather who has some visions. The awesome part about it is that the no-paranormal part of the book feels real.
The relationship with the adults is a lot more developed and realistic than in your average YA book, there is no huge high school bitching to add drama because this book doesn't need it to be interesting.
There is an awesome and captivating mystery going on with nicely spaced clues.

The only thing that wasn't perfect was that I find it dragging a bit at the end with the relationship, especially because I was waiting for one more vision opening more on the series plot line which never arrived. But as it is a series, I'm sure my questions will me answered in the next book.

If you like YA and mystery with a bit of romance and paranormal activities, don't miss this book.
2303329
I love YA fiction even though I'm well past being a YA, but for a few years now it's been hard to find one that is not full of typos, wince-worthy cheesy dialogue and romance, winey contradictory characters, and plots that are seriously all over the place. I was initially hesitant to read Ink and Bone because the protagonist is a male. I like to read about kick ass female leaders, but lately I've been disappointed so many times with so many YA books, that I was like what the hell, and picked this one up. Wow, I'm glad I did.
Finally, you can read this book without wincing. You can escape and not be jarred back out in reality because of some idiotic plot device or conversation. It just flows. It's dark and horrific what happens to these kids, but Caine manages to include some humor. The protagonist is perceptive, confident but not to a fault. He's humble all the way through. You can really feel him grow, along with the rest of the characters, in response to the plot. Sometimes as important as it is to have strong female protagonists in YA, it's just as important to have strong, sensitive male protagonists.
Caine takes on a lot of heavy topics, but somehow it doesn't seem contrite or overdone. The characters stay with you. The dialogue and narration are actually quite thought provoking and philosophical. The plot (though relatively standard - evil hegemonic power in a dystopian future) remains unique because of what fills it (the environment, the characters, etc.). There is a bit of romance, and itself is a little complicated, and becomes more important toward the end, but not in a suffocating way. I suppose the interaction starts out a little insta-romance like, but given these are 16 year olds, and its laid out pretty simply - he's just attracted to her. Well, that definitely happens in real life.
Anyway, it's great. I'm hoping the sequel comes out soon, but I'd rather Caine take the time to write it well, and I suspect she will.
3597453
This YA book opens engagingly with the rather unconventional inner monologue of the about-to-be-sixteen-years-old Aza, who has a rare lung ailment (it's even named after her!) and as she puts it, "a history of hospitals". With such a history, her inner voice is tough, with hints of vulnerability as well. There is some vulgar language, but that's about the only non-age-appropriate part of the book. I think an audio version would be particularly appealing, too.

And though Aza addresses the reader directly at times which is a huge pet peeve of mine, the book has a convincing edge to even it's most unbelievable sections. It's a surprisingly emotional read, too. The perspective doesn't stay with Aza, but the style isn't very different between the perspectives, so it could be even more powerful if future books in the series develop the other characters more, especially in those sections. The action gets a little chaotic and muddled at times, the book ends leaving me at least anxious for the sequel! It's an exciting read and really feels original with its blend of modern and magic. I definitely plan on continuing on with the series - I hope that the wait isn't too terrible long! There are plenty pf places to pick up the story and questions left unanswered, and yet the ending is still completely satisfying which is a conclusion with a balance that is hard to manage! It's very well-done!
2541565
Forever Twelve, by Meg Kimball, is not the type of book I would normally read. It seems like it is geared toward the YA crowd, but after reading it, there's a sense that it's more for the adults, at least those who want to remember what is what like to be twelve again.

There are parts of Forever Twelve that get a little tedious, and there are few pieces of dialogue that definitely don't sound like twelve-year old girls talking (though I admit I'm not now nor have I ever been a twelve-year old girl). However, except for these minor flaws, most of the book is delightful, and though it's not action packed, most of it moves along very nicely.

The best thing about Forever Twelve is the characters. They are so well crafted that you can virtually see and hear them as you read. The two main characters, Andi and Corey, are different, but very much the same  twelve-year old girls! Their ordinary yet exciting adventures are interesting, and the backstory of their lives is both sad and heart-warming. Their families are well-developed and provide a compelling framework for each girls outlook on life. The minor characters  friends, parents, teachers are also created and developed with care

Though you may not be riveted to Forever Twelve, you will find it a surprisingly interesting page-turner, and you will delight in the depth and clarity of the writing. Even if this isn't the type of book you normally read, I suggest you give it a try. You just might be surprised how much you like it!
3068228
Recently our bookclub chose to read two YA novels. Of the two, this one was the clear standout for me. It sits in that genre called crossover fiction. It relates as much to older teenagers as it does to their parents.

With some novels which switch the narrative between two characters, and two different time periods, you can lose the flow of the story. This novel is clever in the way that the two characters not only have completely different voices, but the very look and feel of the pages themselves are different. When we are with Noah, the writing is poetic and the pages follow in this artisitc vein, with painted swirls and patterns of black & gray around the border. When we are with his twin sister Jude the pages are plain and simple. Thats not to say her story is simplistic. Far from it. Both characters are complex and have their own internal battles going on. The two stories are woven cleverly together towards the climax.

The story deals with themes which would challenge younger readers, such as sex without consent, death of a parent, parental infidelety, sexuality and addictions. As an ex teen librarian, I would recommend older teens and their parents read this book together, or that English teachers assign it as class reading. I am confident that in either a home or school setting it would spark some thought-provoking conversations. Its a book with many layers, but ultimately its about the complexity of the human heart and the consequences of choices.
4328189
As a high school teacher, I'm always reading young adult fiction, both for the pleasure it gives me and in order to recommend and encourage my students to read. I picked up Lauren Oliver's second book, DELIRIUM, first, because I like dystopian fiction. I wasn't blown away by that book - the society she created didn't really make sense, maybe because there are mysteries Oliver wants to explore in parts two and three - but I was impressed with Oliver's writing itself, which led me to find her debut novel.

I'm happy to say I enjoyed this book a lot more. Early on, Sam, the protagonist, herself refers to the film Groundhog Day, as if Oliver wants us to get out in the open what we are thinking. You do know all along the basic idea: by reliving her final day over and over, Sam is bound to change and be ready to move on to . . . what? Heaven? A new chance? So the premise isn't exactly original (there goes that fifth star!), but what Oliver does with it, coupled with her truly lovely prose, makes for an entertaining and thoughtful read with a very satisfying ending.

One of the other reviewers complained that Sam's quartet of mean girls doesn't change or grow enough. Well, it DOES all happen in one day, and only Sam gets to live that day over and over and, thus, change for the better. And while there's a lot of the basic "stages of grief" going on in each subsequent day, from shock to anger to sadness to acceptance, I liked what Oliver revealed about the people in Sam's life and how she tied each day together. I also think we really do get to see Sam grow and change in a believable way: we may not like the person she starts out as, but we learn how this is due to the choices she has made and these choices are believable. I also like how there's no really easy fix to the crises that Sam encounters, especially when it comes to her relationship with her best friend Lindsay and that with Juliet Sykes. Juliet is a fascinating portrait of a kind of student I have seen all too often at school.

If you're a parent who checks out these reviews before buying their child a book, be warned: the book deals quite honestly with issues of sex, drinking, smoking and suicide. It would definitely be a great book for a parent to read with their son or daughter and then discuss together. (Do parents still do that with their kids?) Anyway, I do recommend this book!