Discussion: Mental Illness in YA

Hello my lovelies- today I want to talk about something that's a little different from the typical post around here.

So today we're going to talk about mental illness in the media. Recently, one of my peers committed suicide. I've known him since I was in second grade. And sure, I don't see much of him anymore, considering my life has taken me elsewhere, but the fact still remains that he was someone who's always been there. When the news reached me that he'd killed himself, I was shocked. And it really, truly upset me. There was no way for me to fix this problem. And the truth was that this had really happened- to someone I knew- and it's happening everyday, all over the world.  That thought overwhelmed me. 

So that's what sparked this discussion post. I want to discuss the underrepresentation of mental illnesses in the media, and why it's not acceptable. 

Most people simply don't understand what mental illnesses are. A mental illness isn't just being "really sad", "really anxious", "down in the dumps" "insecure", "unhappy with yourself" or any of those ridiculous things. A mental illness is the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Exercising, spending time with friends, or buying new clothes won't just heal someone. It takes more than that. But, truthfully, the people who believe these things aren't at fault. They simply just don't know. Let me repeat that- they simply just don't know. So one of the easiest ways for us to raise awareness for mental illnesses is through educating people about them. Accurately educating people about them. And that's where books and the media kick in.

When we read about a main character with, say, cancer, we get begin to truly understand what it's like to deal with cancer, because we're inside the main character's head. Before The Fault in Our Stars swept through, I think a lot of people who'd never been exposed to the true horrors of cancer only ever heard about the survival stories, the donations, or the fundraisers. After the Fault in Our Stars, a lot of young adults suddenly understood that not all cancer stories have a happy ending. It can be similar with mental illnesses. If we expose young readers to main characters with mental illnesses, they will finish the book understanding mental illnesses so much more. Because, when you read a novel, you get inside the main character's head. You feel what they feel, you hurt when they hurt. So if we want to spread awareness for what it's really like to have social anxiety, writing characters with anxiety is a great way to do it.

But what's the big deal- why do we care? Well, 1 in 5 teenagers ages 13-18 suffer from a mental illness. Wherever you are in the world, there is somebody you know suffering from some type of mental illness. Just because no one's informed you of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. However, most teenagers turn to their peers when experiencing suicidal thoughts, and we should be concerned about the peers of these young people suffering from mental illness. By teaching them what it means to have a mental illness, we are preparing them for what could come down the road later. Plus, identifying signs of depression can make a huge difference- in their life or somebody else's. Nothing could be worse than a suicidal teenager confessing to a peer what was happening, and that peer not knowing what to do about it. We just need to educate them.

But the sad thing is that we aren't taking advantage of the media to educate teenagers on mental illness. Did anyone see the video recently uploaded on Jesse's channel? If not, a topic was shouted out, and the first player to find a book that fit the topic won that round. The first topic was dead parents, and all four players immediately grabbed books. The second topic was mental illness, and all four players stood in front of Christine's shelves, staring until one of them picked up Allegiant. Why is it so difficult to find books that include mental illness? Why is it so underrepresented in Young Adult Literature? Whatever the answers to those questions are, the truth remains that we need more representation of mental illness in YA, and it's not happening.

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Thanks for reading through my whole post (rant?) here! I feel like I maybe didn't get my point across as clearly as I wanted to, but hopefully you get where I'm coming from. What are your thoughts on this subject? Comment below!

The Rest of Us Just Live Here

Title: The Rest of Us Just Live Here
Author: Patrick Ness
Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy
Pages: 317
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Purchase this book:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

Mike is not the chosen one. Neither is his sister Mel, or his friends Jared or Henna. Not his mom, not his dad, not his cat, nor his other sister. They all just live and exist in the shadows of the real chosen ones. This time, like all other times, it's the Indie kids. The ones set apart from everyone else. They're the real chosen ones.

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This book is okay. It has an interesting concept and all, but I didn't find the actual story to be all that captivating. Plus, I didn't really like the way Patrick Ness blends fantasy and realism together. This was the first Patrick Ness book for me, and I wasn't expecting the line between fantasy and realism to be so definite. I feel like fantasy has a sort of ambiance to it, and it shouldn't be able to be turned off and on so easily.

So perhaps my problem with this book is merely Patrick Ness' writing style. Maybe you like it, maybe you don't, however, I feel this was not the only fault in this novel.

The plot wasn't all that interesting. I mean, I guess it was a unique idea and all, but I just wasn't all that overwhelmed with the story. It was a rather boring plot line filled with rather boring characters. However, while we're on the topic of the characters, I did find the representation of mental illness to be very nice. I don't come across many YA books that feature a main character with a mental illness, and this story has two. You see a truthful, accurate representation of anorexia and OCD in this book, and I think it's something you don't come across that often in YA.  That being said, the actual personalities of the characters were bland, and the story was predictable and dull at many points.

So would I actually recommend this? If you're a fan of Ness, then chances are you'll like this. If you haven't read any of his books, I suppose you should give it a try. It's has a very unique style, and despite not liking, I'm glad I read it.

Stars Above

Title: Stars Above
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Pages: 369
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Purchase this book:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

The Lunar Chronicles may be over, but Stars Above completes the last novel with its epilogue and other short stories, including The Keeper, Glitches, The Queen's Army, Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky, After Sunshine Passes, The Princess and the Guard, The Little Android, The Mechanic, and Something Old, Something New. 

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I thought this collection was okay. There were nine short stories, and I only really only enjoyed three of them.

The first four stories, The Keeper, Glitches, The Queen's Army, Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky, and After Sunshine Passes were somewhat entertaining. I mean, you learned a bit of background about some of the characters, but it doesn't add anything to the story. I could've gone without reading them. 

I did enjoy The Princess and the Guard, as it was all about Winter and Jacin's relationship as they grew up. Winter is my favorite character, and I loved getting to read a story showing us all the trauma she went through as a child. It really helped me understand and respect her as a character. 

The Little Android was sort of cool, as it was a retelling of The Little Mermaid, but the story itself was very boring, and was about all new characters we were meeting for the first time. I did enjoy The Mechanic, though. It was Cinder and Kai's first meeting from Kai's point of view, and I liked reading about what was going on through his mind. 

And finally, the epilogue, Something Old, Something New. I'm definitely glad I got to read this epilogue. We find out all about the relationships we'd grown to love, and how they played out. No, it wasn't so amazing that it made this book a four star, but I'm still happy we got this nice, cute, fairytale ending. 

So if you're contemplating reading this, I'd say give it a shot. It's not very long, and for the most part, it goes fast. You'll get to learn the background of the main characters, and find out how the series concludes. 

Anna and the French Kiss

Title: Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Pages: 372

Rating: 4 Stars

Purchase this book:

Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Book Depository

Anna does not want to leave her home in Atlanta, but her rich and famous author-father believes that attending a boarding school in Paris will be "beneficial". So, Anna packs her bags and sets off for the City of Light. However, when she gets there, she discovers that maybe Paris won't be as bad as she thinks- especially once she's set her eyes on the charismatic Étienne St. Clair. 

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This book was so cute! I don't read that much contemporary, and even less romance, but I was pleasantly surprised here. The Parisian setting along with the adorable characters create a lovable, fun novel.

My favorite aspect of Anna and the French Kiss is definitely the setting. Reading a book that takes place in Paris is just flat out fun. A lot of contemporary books are set in the states, a setting I'm familiar with, so it doesn't have the new and exciting feel to it. Paris is a place so different and distant from what I'm used to, and it made the book all that more enjoyable. I also take French, so I do know about the culture, geography, and language.  I think my background knowledge on the location allowed me to appreciate things in the story even more. 

The characters are fun, too. Sure, "charismatic, confident boy meets shy, new girl" is a little cliché, but it doesn't matter because their relationship is so unique. They're strong friends throughout the book, rather than instantly a couple. Plus, they aren't the only characters in the novel. Their other friends have unique personalities that make the book special and different. 

I will have to say that the writing in the book wasn't always the best. Sometimes I felt like the sentence structure was too choppy and disruptive. Too flat. And there were a few points in the plot that were way too convenient/predictable.  But, the story was super addictive, and I just really enjoyed getting to sit down and read this book. 

I read in the acknowledgements that this novel started out as a National Novel Writing Month book- how cool is that? So, I'm giving Anna and the French Kiss four stars for it's lovely characters, adorable romance, and fresh plot line. If you're reluctant about contemporary and/or romance, give this book a try! I think you'll like it. 

Just a Few Inches

Title: Just a Few Inches
Author: Tara St. Pierre
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 298
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4 Stars
Purchase this book here

"It's just a few inches".  That's what Carrie Roberts told herself as she downed her first dietary pill just four days before the Valentine Day Dance.  Carrie, desperate to prove to her cheerleader rival, Janelle, that she could fit into the best dress ever, Carrie turns to a miracle weight loss pill.  But, little did she know that she'd begin to lose those "few inches" in just the wrong places. 

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Essentially, this book follows the vertical decrease of Carrie Roberts after she misuses dietary pills.  However, this book is about so much more than just that.  I actually really enjoyed this novel along with its positive and powerful message.

When Carrie Roberts starts to lose inches in height, she uses her misfortune to make an impact on other people who suffer with negative body image and low self esteem.  I feel like most people go through something like this at some point in their lives, and because of that, most people would be able to really relate to this book.  Even if you've never felt bad about your appearance, you've probably compared yourself to another person at some point.  This book really addresses accepting who are, and loving yourself for you.  

But the positive message is not the only thing I enjoyed about this book.  For one thing, the plot itself if very new and exciting.  I myself am taller than the average adult female, so I'm rather close in height to where Carrie starts out.  Because of this, it was rather weird reading from the perspective of someone who is basically growing backwards.  I always told myself that I have to remember what it feels like to grow up, so that I'll never be the type of adult that can't relate with a child.  But, as I watched through Carrie's eyes how different the world seems when you're the height of a small child, I realized how much I've already forgotten.  It was almost difficult at times to visualize the world as Carrie shrunk, and it was rather refreshing to remember what it was like to be shorter than counter tops or unable to look up a things for very long without getting a stiff neck. 

Another thing I enjoyed was just how much the plot twisted and turned.  There were plenty of times when I was unable to stop reading because of how suspenseful the writing was. The other small aspect I enjoyed was that Carrie was the assistant editor of her school newspaper. She made quite a few grammar related jokes that only certain people in this world can appreciate.  

So if you want a relatable suspenseful, and moving story, I would recommend Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre. 

Winter

Title: Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Pages: 827
Rating: 5 Stars
Purchase this book here

Haughty, manipulative, vain- all common stereotypes of the Lunars.  But Winter doesn't want to be any of those things.  Winter wants to be different.  But, when a Lunar doesn't use their power, a mental disease slowly takes over their mind.  Few people would ever give up their ability, let alone allow it to be the cause of their madness. However, Winter's prepared to face the consequences of disregarding her power if it means she's free from the prison it weaves.  In the final book of the Lunar Chronicles, Princess Winter joins the rebellion against Luna's Evil Queen Levana.  

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This book is by far my favorite of all the novels in the Lunar Chronicles.  It's very lengthy, but I'm so happy they didn't split it into two books or something stupid like that.  If you've read the first three books, you need to stop what you're doing and pick this one up right now.  Seriously.  It's really good. 

You meet the new character, Winter, in the last book, but we learn so much more about her in Winter, predictably.  Winter's a really interesting character.  She's extremely optimistic; she sees the good in everyone.  She's also astonishingly beautiful, but she doesn't seem to care all that much.  She's very similar to the Snow White we're all familiar with, except for one thing: Winter is a lunatic.  Literally. She's slowly gone mad ever since the day she gave up using her lunar power. Personally, I thought this was a really unique twist to the story, and Winter ended up being my favorite character out of the whole lot. 

Something I really enjoyed reading about was the countless different relationships in this book.  Scarlet and Winter's relationship would be one of my favorites.  Scarlet is a down to earth, no no nonsense kind of girl, while Winter is anything but. You'd expect Scarlet to despise Winter, but instead we get to see Scarlet's softer side as she and Winter interact more and more throughout the book.  There are plenty other relationships I enjoyed too.  Iko and Cinder's endless loyalty to each other, Cress and Thorne's cautious, innocent romance, and Jacin's adorable, but slightly annoying, protectiveness of his childhood friend, Winter.  Watching all these and so many other relationships develop and change was just really enthralling.  

The last thing that contributed to the five stars I gave Winter was simply the plot.  The book is pretty long, and I was wondering what could possibly happen that would entail so many pages.  I got my answer.  The book is filled with plot twists and cliffhangers, and the pacing allows you to fly through the book.  I believe I read 400 pages yesterday, and it felt like I'd only read half that. 

I'd fully recommend you read this book. It's a fantastic concluding novel, and I know you'll enjoy it. 

Bookish Pet Peeves

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We all have them: those things in a book that just drive you crazy.  Otherwise known as- 

Bookish Pet Peeves

Here are my personal top 5 bookish pet peeves: 

1. Editing Mistakes

Whether it's a typo, grammatical mistake, or spelling error, once I see an editing mistake, I can't ignore it.  It's there, tugging on the back of my mind for the next chapter or so. The worst, though, is when there are multiple, frequently.  One or two I can live with, but when every page seems to have an error- it drives me crazy! 

2. Instant Romance

I'm sure most people would agree that instant romance is extremely annoying.  It throws the reality of the plot off center. What's worse is when the plot is driven by the romance, because then the entire storyline is centered on this unrealistic "love". 

3. Models on the Cover That Look Nothing Like the Character

I know there are some of you out there who just dislike models on the cover of books in general, but I can live with it.  However, I can't stand it when the model looks nothing like the character they represent.  I don't mean small, insignificant details, but the color of their hair, the tone of their skin, or the color of their eyes are all things that should coincide with what the author describes.  I also dislike it when they're wearing something the character never wears.  If the character doesn't ever wear a dress in the entire book, the model on the cover shouldn't be either.  

4. Printing Mistakes

I recently read a book that was covered in these random specks of ink.  And not pen ink, printer ink.  The specks obscured letters, showed up in the margin, and were just everywhere. It was just so annoying, because I kept trying to brush them off... but they wouldn't go away!  Another printing mistake I can't stand is when the page is not aligned correctly, meaning it's off center or crooked, the words leaning one way or another. 

5. Dust Jackets

Don't get me wrong, I love hardback books.  I love how I don't have to worry about the spine breaking or the cover creasing.  However, the dusk jackets are just exasperating.  I like being able to look at the actual cover of the book, but it seems I (along with many other people, I'm sure) end up slipping the cover off the book until I'm done with it.  Whenever I try to read the book, the cover slowly creeps up or down, and it seems like the jacket gets creased or bent while traveling in my bag.  Dust jackets, while good looking, are simply impossible.  

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So those were my bookish pet peeves!  What are some of your annoyances when it comes to books, and do you disagree with any of mine? 

Shatter Me

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi 
Genre: YA Dystopian
Pages: 338
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Purchase this book here

Juliette's touch is poisoned with death. Every human she touches dies within minutes.  Why? Nobody knows for sure, but the one thing that everyone knows is that Juliette is powerful.  The Reestablishment seeks to use her curse power to take over the world. Juliette seeks to hide her power from the world. After being imprisoned for the past year because of her curse power, Juliette is wary of anyone who sees good in an ability so evil.  

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I liked this book more than I thought I would, even if it's not the best book ever.  The action is exciting, and the overall idea is very unique. 

Maybe you picked this up from my synopsis, but the book is filled with crossed out words.  I really liked this aspect of the novel, because it helped you better understand Juliette, the main character.  However, I can see why this would bother some people, as it does break the flow of the writing a bit.  If this is something that would ruin the reading experience for you, I would steer clear of this novel.  

My biggest problem with the book was probably the love interest.  Adam is a rather bland character.  He doesn't really have a personality, and he lacks flaws. What little personality he does have is conflicting.  

My other problem with this book was how much romance there was.  I'm fine with some here and there, but it felt like every other scene was a romance scene. 

However, I did enjoy this book.  It had a very interesting plot.  Juliette literally has the touch of death, and it was interesting to read from the point of view of a person who is pretty much isolated from society in a mental and physical way.  

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a unique dystopian action novel, and doesn't mind a lot of romance.  I'm rating it three and a half stars merely because it wasn't terrible, it wasn't spectacular, but I did enjoy it.  

Top 15 of 2015!

Since this year is coming to a close, I figured I'd recap this crazy ride in 15 books I loved this 2015. These are in chronological order, not in order of preference. 

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I'm sure that if you've read these books, you know what I mean when I say that they are simply amazing.  Cinder, along with the rest of its series, takes Fairy Tale Retellings to a whole other level. I got Winter for Christmas, and I cannot wait to read it! 

2. In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken 

The Darkest Minds is one of my favorite series ever. I read the concluding novel, and loved it just as much as all the other books, although the first is probably my favorite of them all.  Who's excited for Passenger? 

3. The Heir by Kiera Cass

I had this book preordered for so many months it's not even okay.  I'm fairly certain I was the first person to read it at my school, since I read it pretty much the day it came out.  I remember when I lent it out to one of my best friends, we actually had to put a different dust jacket on it so people would stop asking to read it. (It's a signed addition, to there was no way I would be lending it out to anyone other than my closest friends.) 

4. The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

This book is so funny! If you haven't read it yet, and you have read The Mortal Instruments, you seriously need to read The Bane Chronicles. 

5. The Program by Suzanne Young

I still haven't read the next book... I really should get to that.  But aside from that, I really enjoyed this book in a twisted sort of way, given how sad it is.  

6. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige 

I know that some people have a problem with this book's relation to Full Fathom Five, but I loved this book enough to not care.  And, while I was disappointed by the second book, The Wicked Will Rise, I have high hopes for book three, Yellow Brick War. I believe Danielle Paige is coming to BookCon, too! 

7. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

 

This is one of those series that just gets better with each new book, and now I'm on the edge of my seat for the final book. 

8. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

 

This book, along with Crown of Midnight, have both captivated me to the fullest, and I can't wait to continue with the series. 

9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  

My mom practically bribed me to read this book with Fangirl, but I'm so happy I did read it.  It was very powerful, very influential, and very moving.  I really hope I never have to read it in school and have it ruined for me. (Which is highly unlikely, but I can still hope.) 

10. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I don't think, if you, like me, are a Harry Potter Fangirl, that you would be unable to read this book and not relate to it on an extreme level.  

11. The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore

This is the second to last book in the I am Number Four series, and it left off at such a cruel cliff hanger!  I can't wait for the final book.

12. What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

This book is pretty much indescribable.  I'm not the biggest contemporary reader- I am starting to read more of the genre, but a couple months ago, I strayed away from contemporary.  I'm telling you this, because What We Saw is now one of my favorite books, despite being contemporary.  It's just such a powerful book, and I've already forced recommended it to plenty of people. 

13. The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan 

I mean, it's Rick Riordan and Annabeth, so how can I say no?

14. Still Life by Jacqueline West

This is the concluding novel to a Middle Grade book series that has stuck with me since 4th grade, and I am not ashamed to say I cried when it ended. 

15.  Looking For Alaska by John Green

I love most realistic fiction books that have deeper, hidden meanings.  Anyone who's read Looking For Alaska knows this book is a perfect one when it comes to uncovering the secrets of life.  

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And those were my top 15 of 2015!  I hope you enjoyed glancing at the best books of my year.  What were some of your favorites this year? 

Five Seven Five

Note: I received this book for review in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Five Seven Five (The Boy With Words #1)
Author: C.E. Wilson
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Pages: 200
Rating: 4 Stars
Purchase this book here 

White Frost has never been into the Unknown, but she hopes that one day, this will change. The only thing she knows of the world outside is what her cousin brings back to her.  Little scraps of paper with small collections of words.  Her cousin Shade is a Chosen One.  He is one of the few that are able to leave the zones and enter the Unknown world.   But after a tragic event tips White's world upside down, she begins to gain a new perspective about life, and the world she knew.  

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This was an extremely unique novel- something unlike anything I'd ever read- and I definitely suggest you give it a shot! 

The beginning of this book has a very mysterious premise.  You don't exactly know what's going on- but you know some thing's off. White doesn't know anything about blue skies, green grass, rain, clouds, or colors.  For me, this is what caught my attention. A world where the main character knows nothing of beauty and light?  How could I resist? 

Our main character, White, as you slowly learn, is not like many of the other people in her society.  She wants more.  She wants to see what is out there beyond the zones of her colony.  Her only problem is that she is too young to apply for the position of "Chosen One"- like her cousin. 

Throughout the book, you get to watch White discover the beauty of a world beyond her imagination.  You get to drink in every tiny detail through her eyes, and it's gorgeously done.  The descriptions create such a vivid, complete picture.  It's beautiful.  

The characters are another nicely done aspect of the story.  Each one is unique, complex, and a little difficult to fully understand. Oh, and their names!  They're simply the best. For example- Penny Lincoln (like how President Lincoln is on the United States penny), and there are two siblings by the names Salt and Pepper. I know some people were a little weirded out by the names, but I liked them, because it really helps you differentiate between White's world, and the world we know.  

  

My one complaint would be that there are a couple editing/grammatical errors, but they are certainly easy to look past given the superiority of the plot.  

I can't tell you all that much about this story without giving away some major plot twists- so it is difficult for me to explain exactly why I think you should check this book out, but overall, if you want something new and different, I'd recommend this one.  Five Seven Five is a one of a kind novel, and it's sure to leave you with a positive, lasting impression. 

Crown of Midnight

Warning: This review contains spoilers for Throne of Glass, the first book in the Throne of Glass series
Title: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 418
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Purchase this book here

In this second installment in the Throne of Glass series, Celaena Sardothien begins her work as the King's Champion.  She's earning loads of money, she's finally got her love life untangled, and she's very content.  Of course something has to go wrong.

When Celaena discovers there is more to the labyrinth  beneath her rooms, an even more shocking discovery is made, and Celaena begins to realize that not everyone is as they seem.

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Oh my gosh this book was good!  If you read the first one, and you haven't gotten around to picking up the next book, you NEED to.  Like, now.  It's even better than the first book, if you ask me.  With the first book's plot, you sort of expect a lot of murders, twists, and cliff hangers.  With Crown of Midnight, you don't ever really know what's going to happen next.  The plot is so much more intricate and layered- it's phenomenal! 

One thing I couldn't get over is how emotionally gripping this book was.  I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I definitely wasn't prepared for a book that would leave me crying out loud, jumping up from my chair in disbelief, and tossing my book angrily to the side.  I was up until midnight last night, just physically incapable of putting it down.  

But why was it so good? Well, first there's the plot twists.  The book would draw you into this false sense of security and then- BOOM- plot twist!  That plot twist would lead you racing down another path when all of a sudden- ARGH- cliff hanger! And then, you're there, wobbling at the edge of this cliff, so desperate and excited that you slip and go crashing down, down, down until you've landed in a swiftly flowing river, and you're being carried down it, trying to stay afloat, and it's all you can do from being dragged beneath the crashing rapids.   You're being thrown around, side from side, your thrashing just making everything worse, and everythingishappeningsofastandyoudon'tunderstandwhat'sgoingonand then suddenly, the river slows down, and you stop thrashing.  You feel your tense, sore muscles loosen, your breathing slows to long, even inhales and exhales, your heart rate decreases to a steady drumming- you relax.  You are floating merrily down the river when, just out of nowhere, a waterfall appears and you tumble over it's edge.  You never do hit the bottom.  

That's it.  That's the plot.  It's just one crazy ride that never really leaves you feeling safe.  And even though it's wild and unpredictable, each plot twists hits you hard.  

So there's one reason why the book's so good.  Another great thing about this novel would be the characters.  No body's boring, everyone has a purpose, and there are no Mary Sues or Gary Stus.  For example, there's our main character Celaena.  She's the definition of power, strength, and skill.  But despite being so refined, she has a beautiful, soft side- a more feminine side filled with the love of books, pets, and chocolate cake.  I think that everyone can relate to her on some degree.  Chaol is another great character.  He's loyal, hardworking, and naive.  He's a character impossible to dislike.  And then there's our villain- the king.  Personally, I think he's an awesome villain.  He's someone you love to hate.  But not everything is out there about him.  You don't quite know how far he's willing to go to gain total power.  You remain in the dark with this villain, leaving an element of shock and surprise in the hands of the author.  The characters are just amazing. 

So if you haven't gone ahead and continued this series, I really suggest you do so.  If you have read this book, what did you think?  Were you as captivated by this novel as I was? 

Eleanor and Park

Title: Eleanor and Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
Pages: 328 
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Purchase this book here

     Eleanor lives a hard life.  Her family is in pieces, she owns practically nothing, and she's a social outcast to top it off.  
     Park has everything one could every want.  A loving family, a warm house, and a mutual, friendly feeling towards everyone in school.  
     It's hard to imagine that two people so virtually different would ever find their paths crossing, but for Eleanor and Park, that's exactly what happens.  In this fast-paced novel, you follow the ever complicated story of two teenagers, drowning in desperate romance.  

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I really liked this novel.  I had some trouble really getting into it, but as the novel hit it's climax, I found myself unable to put it down!  It's a really simple, refreshing romance, with it's own twist. 

My favorite part of this book was definitely the relationships. First, there is the obvious: Eleanor and Park.  The way their romance evolves, starting slowly and then speeding up, was beautifully done.  Eleanor loves the simplest things.  The hand holding, the talking.  It was rather refreshing coming from a genre that is usually the opposite. 

The next relationship is Eleanor and Mindy.  I found it to be quite enjoyable.  The two start off very cold and distant, Mindy taking Eleanor's disregard for fashion and beauty as a personal offence, but as the story progresses, Mindy finds herself able to relate to Eleanor, and she becomes the daughter Mindy never had.  It was just so heartwarming!

Finally, we have Park and his father.  My gosh they were hilarious. Despite their differences, Park's dad seemed to really understand when something truly mattered to Park, and he always came through in the end. 

As I mentioned above, I had trouble really getting myself into this book.  I couldn't relate to Eleanor. At all.  And I didn't really like her.  I thought she was too confusing as a main character, I didn't understand her.  But as the story unfolded, I found myself buried under the layers this book had created, and I had to get myself out.  I raced through the end of this book, and my emotions were out of whack by the end.  

I definitely recommend this book to you, especially if you were like me, and have been putting this book off for a while.  I know you'll enjoy it. 

Top Ten Tuesday 12/1/15

Top Ten Tuesday is brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's theme is actually "most anticipated debut novels of 2016", but because I don't think I'd be able to come up with ten, I'll be simplifying it to "most anticipated novels of 2016". 

So, here are my Top Ten Most Anticipated Novels of 2016 in order from least to greatest anticipation:

10. Stars Above by Merissa Meyer

Stars Above is going to be a collection of short stories from the Lunar Chronicles! More content? I think yes.  

9. I See Reality by Various Authors

With twelve short stories about life, I thought this book looked rather interesting. 

8. Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige

This is the third book in the Dorothy Must Die series, and I'm pretty excited to see how it ends. (Is it the last book... I don't know if there's supposed to be another one or not.)

7. The Last Star by Rick Yancey

This is the final book in the 5th wave trilogy, and I'm certain I'm not the only one who's highly excited about seeing how this alien apocalypse closes.  

6. Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

This is the 2nd book in the Red Queen series, and I'm really excited to see what happens next!

5. United As One by Pittacus Lore

IT'S THE LAST BOOK- I'M SO EXCITED!!!! 

Ahem, anyway, yes, final installment in the I Am Number Four series, and I seriously can't handle the cliffhanger we got at the end of the last book.

4. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken   

If you didn't already know, yes.  Alexandra Bracken is releasing a new book on January 5th, and yes, I am most definitely reading it.  And just look at that stunning cover! 

I mean, I'm not one to judge books by their cover (cough) but just look at it! 

3. The Crown by Kierra Cass

I know some people weren't too fond of the extension of the Selection Series, but I personally adore the Selection world, and I'm super excited to get this book.

2. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater 

The final book in the Raven Cycle is coming out spring of next year, and I seriously cannot wait.  Also, this book has a beautiful cover- it takes my breath away.  

1. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare 

And my number one, most highly anticipated novel of 2016 is Lady Midnight.  I mean- is there a TMI fan out there who isn't excited for Lady Midnight?  More content on those next generation Shadowhunters = take my money. 

Thanks for reading this week's TTT- comment your thoughts and feel free to link your post! 

  

Saint Anything

Title: Saint Anything
Author: Sarah Dessen 
Genre: Contemporary YA 
Pages: 417
Rating: 4/5
Purchase this book here

Sydney Stanford grew up in the shadow of her older brother, Peyton.  Everything she did was followed by Peyton doing something better.  So, you’d think that when Peyton got thrown in jail for running over a young boy while driving drunk, Sydney would finally get some recognition for her good, positive personality.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case.  Instead, she’s thrown further under the dark, overcast cloud Peyton has created, and Sydney slowly begins to believe herself invisible. 

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I really enjoyed this book.  The beginning was a little slow, but once you got through the background information part, it began to pick up, and I was hooked! The characters were the best- Sydney was super relatable, and her friends were just plain adorable.  You wanted to hate the antagonists, love the good guys, and you felt all of Sydney’s anger and frustration just as vividly as if it were all happening to you. 

This book basically follows Sydney Stanford’s life as she deals with the aftermath of her brothers huge mistakes, which include (but are not limited to) driving under influence (and hitting a boy which resulted in his paralyze), drug abuse, burglary, and breaking and entering.  Feeling judged as she follows her brother's path through school, she makes the decision to switch schools- gaining a clean slate.  You watch her struggle with her parents inability to trust her, despite the fact that Sydney had never done anything wrong, all because of her brother’s history.  You watch life unravel as she tries to get her parents to understand how she feels; about her brother, her life, and how she’s being treated by her family.  And most importantly, you look in as Sydney finds her confidence, her meaning, and herself. 

This book really toyed with your emotions.  I truly felt Sydney’s anger and frustration at her parents, and every time she had to stay home alone with her brother’s creepy friend, I felt my heart speed up in nervousness.  

And then there were the scenes were she was surrounded by her new found friends.  Whenever they’d all be truly, truly happy, I found myself in a good mood as well. 

My one problem was that Sydney tended to make stupid decisions. Underage drinking, lying when it wasn’t necessary, and being unable to stand up for herself are a few.  There were times were I really wished I could just pop into the book and talk some sense into her.  She wouldn’t have even gotten into half of these bad situations if she had done the smart thing and just said “no.” 

Despite it’s flaws, this book is just so easy to relate to and I loved it. I think everyone’s found themselves in a point in their life where they just feel misunderstood.  Like nobody in the world sees things the way they do.  And because of that, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.