TheXezza: young adult

Showing posts with label young adult. Show all posts

Title: The Smell of Other People's Houses
Author: Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
Amazon Link: Buy now
Book Depository Link: Buy now
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Contemporary/ Historical/ Coming of Age
Buy: No. Netgally Advanced Reader's Copy
Review: Goodreads

Synopsis

In Alaska, 1970, being a teenager here isn’t like being a teenager anywhere else. Ruth has a secret that she can’t hide forever. Dora wonders if she can ever truly escape where she comes from, even when good luck strikes. Alyce is trying to reconcile her desire to dance, with the life she’s always known on her family’s fishing boat. Hank and his brothers decide it’s safer to run away than to stay home—until one of them ends up in terrible danger.

Four very different lives are about to become entangled.

Review

The Characters

The story revolve around the four main characters which are Ruth, Dora, Alyce and Hank.

Ruth: She's coming from a very loving family. But it didn't last long when she lost her father in a plane crash that leave her mother in a devastated state and make her incompetent to take care of Ruth and her little sister. Because of the tragedy, Ruth and her little sister had to live with their strict and unloving grandmother. She had to deal with the loss and had to adapt to her new life that is very different than before. She envied other people's houses because she didn't feel the loving environment in her house.

Dora: Dora has to deal with her abusive parents (physically by her father, and mentally by her mother). One event had make her leave her family and live with her best friend, Dumpling's family. She needed to escape from where she coming from and she really want to be part of Dumpling's perfect family. She loves the smell of Dumpling's house and don't want to go back to her real life.

Alyce: Alyce is trying her best to make the best decision for her own life. Coming from a divorced parents, she was afraid that anything she choose from will hurt her father's feeling. By choosing her dream, she would have to give up the life in a fishing boat that she have known forever and the life that her father loves.

Hank: Hank and his brothers run away from their house. His father passed away and her mother wants to marry a new man. Thinking that the best decision is to run away in preserving the memory of their father, they encounter with a terrible thing that happened to one of the brother.

The Plot

This book is told from multiple points of view. I enjoyed every character's voice and their own perspective. The way that this book written and the plot is really engrossing and make me feel the need to know what happen next. This book is full of emotion rather than just teen romance.

The smell of other people's houses is a perfect title as the book itself is focusing on how as a person we occasionally judge or think that some people had better than us and we hated where we come from because of it. However, behind of those nice smell, there are so many heartbreaking and hurtful things happened that we didn't know.

This book deal with lots of difficult topics such as poverty, teen pregnancy, abuse and mental illness. There are so many issues that this book focus on without being too serious and heavy. It's amazing how the author can conclude this book with positive ending despite all the heavy issues that have been focused on.

Overall

I love the cover, the title and how emotional this book are. How could you not love the cover and the tittle? It's perfect. And the story is making me emotionally involved. I love every bit of it. To be very honest, I love Dumping the most in this book. Although she is not the main character, her character is vital to give a very good ending. Thank you, Dumpling.

Book Quotes

(may contain spoilers)

We don't have to be blood to be family.

Sometimes you can be inserted into another person's life just by witnessing something you were never really supposed to be a part of.

Because isn't that how forever happens- instantly?

Further Reading Suggestion

Eleanor & Park

Title: Tell The Wolves I'm Home
Author: Carol Rifka Brunt
Amazon Link: Buy now
Book Depository Link: Buy now
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Contemporary/ Coming of Age
Buy: Yes
Review: Goodreads

Synopsis

1987. There's only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that's her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn's company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June's world is turned upside down. But Finn's death brings a surprise acquaintance into June's life--someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

At Finn's funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn's apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she's not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

Review

First, I need to warn everyone that this book is too sad for poor heart like mine and anyone. I actually did not expect it to be this super sad and heartbreaking.

The main character June just lost her one and only uncle, best friend and godfather to AIDS. She has to deal with the lost and heartache. Along with that, she discovered so many secrets, misunderstanding, complex and complicated issue that happened with the lost. Her only sister, Greta finally become more friendly after Finn (the uncle) left and there is one person that she never knew before, suddenly become one of the important person in her life.

Finn death affected June so much that she feel lost and lonely. When she finally learns that there was someone else other than her that was very close and significant to Finn, She realized that maybe, just maybe she didn't really know Finn as much as she think she was. But, that is when she discovered everything, every single thing happened for a reason.

I love June's character so much because she's such a strong character. She was lost, sad and lonely but that doesn't stop her to be so kind, good listener and very open to the cruel fact. She learn so many heartbreaking situation, but she remains strong and kind.

This book is about finding yourself in the loss and finding your way through it. Being strong doesn't mean that we have to deal with everything by ourselves. Sometimes, all we need is someone that will always be beside us and guide us through it. Even though, the person who understand June the most is gone, she realized that she just have to open her eyes and see that there are still someone who love her and understand her.

I'm not ashamed that I was crying too much because of this book. My heart is shattered to millions pieces so many times while reading this book. I can't put it down because, well I don't want to miss anything.

Book Quotes

(may contain spoilers)

Maybe I was destined to forever fall in love with people I couldn’t have. Maybe there’s a whole assortment of impossible people waiting for me to find them. Waiting to make me feel the same impossibility over and over again.

That's what being shy feels like. Like my skin is too thin, the light too bright. Like the best place I could possibly be is in a tunnel far under the cool, dark earth. Someone asks me a question and I stare at them, empty-faced, my brain jammed up with how hard I'm trying to find something interesting to say. And in the end, all I can do is nod or shrug, because the light of their eyes looking at me, waiting for me, is just too much to take. And then it's over and there's one more person in the world who thinks I'm a complete and total waste of space. The worst thing is the stupid hopefulness. Every new party, every new bunch of people, and I start thinking that maybe this is my chance. That I'm going to be normal this time. A new leaf. A fresh start. But then I find myself at the party, thinking, Oh, yeah. This again. So I stand on the edge of things, crossing my fingers, praying nobody will try to look me in the eye. And the good thing is, they usually don't.

You could try to believe what you wanted, but it never worked. Your brain and your heart decided what you were going to believe and that was that. Whether you liked it or not

…there’s just something beautiful about walking on snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you’re special, even though you know you’re not.

The sun kept on with its slipping away, and I thought how many small good things in the world might be resting on the shoulders of something terrible.

Title: When I Was Me
Author: Hilary Freeman
Amazon Link: Buy now
Book Depository Link: Buy now
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Mystery/Thriller
Buy: Yes
Review: Goodreads

Synopsis

One girl, two lives. Which is real?

When Ella wakes up one Monday morning, she discovers that she is not herself and that her life is not her own. She looks different, her friends are no longer her friends and her existence has been erased from the internet. Even worse, years of her history appear to have been rewritten overnight. And yet, nobody else thinks that anything weird has happened.

A tense and dark psychological thriller full of unexpected twists and turns about the random events and decisions that make us who we are. If you can't trust your own memories, then who can you trust?

Review

I actually did not expect anything from this book at first. I picked up this book because of two reason: 1) It's on sale. 2)The cover is pretty. Anyway, I'm glad that I picked up this. Sometimes, I'm lucky when it comes to pick a random book. Sometimes, I don't. But this time, I'm lucky.

This book started with Ella waking up one day feeling like not herself. I do sometimes..like where am I? Who am I? But this is not the case for Ella. Because she literally waking up as a new and different Ella. Her room, her mom and her appearance looking so much different than yesterday. Maybe she loses her mind or maybe she just need to calm down and sleep a bit. But nope..even after calming down and all, she still not herself. It's really crazy.

There's so many things Ella needs to find out. The truth, her real self and someone who can really understand her confusion. And she also needs to adapt to her new life now. As she going through with all that emotion and experience, I feel her sadness and loneliness. She actually is a strong girl mentally. Yes, she cried and break down..but there's something in her that I admire. Especially when she was supposed to major in filmography and the next day she's majoring in chemistry/science..I can't even. How am I supposed to feel about this? It's break my heart, like I was picturing myself as her. What will I do if I was her? I can't think. She adapted very well, bravo Ella.

Apart from that, she's trying her best to get back to her real self with the help of this one person who knows everything. And because of that, she discovered something really complex and she had to made a decision for herself. This book is really interesting and I cannot believe how thin this book is. Like I need explanation. I need more. Please, how's Ella doing after everything? I really get attached to Ella and don't want to leave her.

I don't want to review a lot about this book, because I might spoil it without realizing. The vital part to enjoy this book is by not knowing anything about it. I enjoyed it very much and really recommended this book to anyone..and everyone. It's fast paced book and very thin book (I don't like this part), so yeah.

Book Quotes

(may contain spoilers)

Either I have lot my memory.
Or I have lost my mind.
And if I'm not me, fully me, then who am I?

Like the radiographer, she seems delighted that my brain is 'perfect'. Some people have great legs, others great hair. Apparently, I have beautiful brain. It's just my luck that nobody else will ever be able to appreciate its gorgeousness unless I leave my body to science and it ends up in a jar on someone's desk.

The truth is, I have already lived many lives in my lifetime; there have already existed more versions of me than I can count. I have been constantly changing, little by little, cell by cell, pore by pore. All these other transformations were so slow that I simply didn't notice them happening. This one is different because it was so violent and sudden, because it happened overnight.

Title: Stolen
Author: Lucy Christopher
Amazon Link: Buy now
Book Depository Link: Buy now
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Contemporary/Thriller
Buy: Yes
Review: Goodreads

Synopsis

IT HAPPENED LIKE THIS.

I was stolen from an airport. Kidnapped. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Imprisoned by sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story. A letter to my captor.

Book Review

Gemma and her family went vacation to Bangkok when she first met her captor/kidnaper Ty at the coffee shop in Bangkok Airport while waiting for her flight to go back to London. She's sixteen years old girl who's really kind hearted and friendly and that's the reason why she accepted Coffee from Ty thinking that he was just being friendly. They talked for a while (Gemma being friendly) and suddenly she was in another continent. This is a story about how Gemma coped in that situation. At first she was terrified of that event and was really scared that Ty gonna kill her and all those nightmares. However, she then adapted to her current situation and finally accepted (I guess) that she won't be back home anymore.

First what I like about this book is Gemma's character. The author definitely portray how Gemma felt through all things that happened to her in a realistic way. She was scared at first and by the end of the book, she develop a comfortable feeling towards Ty. This is really possible because she doesn't have any choice but to be dependent on her captor although she hated him at first. But in real life situation, you'll eventually will be attach to Ty when all you can see is how good Ty treat you and somehow you'll forget that Ty is the reason you there (and all the bad things he done). They called it Stockholm syndrome: a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending and identifying with the captors.

I hate Ty character. I just hate him. The moment I start reading this book, all I want to do is burn this book or punching someone face. Because, I hate him. I can't understand him at all. He just some psychotic man and I don't really care about him. I don't want to know anything about him..at all. There are some parts where he discussed the first time he met Gemma and how he was really attracted to her, hence planning on kidnapping her that make my blood boil. Like seriously man..you need help. He's like a villian character from the drama that you hate so much and convince yourself that the person is real and you don't want to watch anymore because you hate him. It's positive kinda hate when you can't distinguish between reality and fiction.

I haven't really read lots of book that involve my emotion especially hateful emotion. Sometimes I do feel emotional while reading but always like happy, sad or terrified but never hate. I think this is the first book that I felt quite disturbed by the fact that I hate the character so much. Apart from that, this is a good book to understand the Stockholm syndrome. I just wish that Gemma will eventually find her own happiness and forget about all those traumatized event that happen to her.

Book Quotes

(may contain spoilers)

'Camels just make a lot of fuss.' You ran your hand up heck, and spoke gently to her again. Her ears flicked back to listen to you. 'As soon as she understand what we wants, she'll do it. Camels are like that.' I wondered if you thought the same thing about me.

What you did to me wasn't this brilliant thing, like you think it was. You took me away from everything-my parents, my friends, my life. You took me to the sand and the heat, the dirt and isolation. And you expected me to love you. And that's the hardest bit. Because I did or at least, I loved something out there. But I hated you too. I can't forget that.

But what else I can do, other than to plead with you like this? Other than to write down my story,our story, to show you what you've done..to make you realise that what you did wasn't fair, wasn't right.

Title: The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
Amazon Link: Buy now
Book Depository Link: Buy now
Genre: Children/Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Buy: Yes
Review: Goodreads

Synopsis

After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family...

Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, The Graveyard Book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.

Book Review

I've read one of the Neil Gaiman’s book before which is The Ocean at The End of Lane and I love it so much. Thinking of it, make me wanna read the book again. Okay, back to the review of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Obviously I love it so much as I gave this book 5 stars. I really interested in fantasy-mystery children book for adult. Even if the book is indeed for children, I think it suit my taste more. I find that this kind of book is mystery yet fantasy and fairy tale like that I prefer more than young adult fantasy.

The Graveyard Book starts with a very heart-racing and tear-jerking scene. I was very much rooting for the baby. Bod to be save by the ghost cause his life pretty much destroyed as his family being murdered by Jack. It was sad because he just a baby and I hate that he lost his family just in one night. Fast forward, he then lives with the graveyard family that so interesting and so many things happen in his life while living there. I can vividly see the life he’s been through at the graveyard because of Neil Gaiman’s writing style. Remind me of how much I love his writing style from his previous book that I read. I enjoy having fun and learning new things with Bod. It was excitement in every chapter and to be very honest I can’t really put down this book. I was too eager to know why Jack killed Bod’s family and every detail of the graveyard mystery. I want to know why and what and how. There were so many questions that came out while I was reading this book. I think everyone who read this book will definitely feel the same, like the feeling of wanted to know every single thing to be fully understood the story.

There are too many characters from this book that I love. I love Bod’s ghost parents, Mr and Mrs Owens that have typical over protective parents like. They love Bod as their own son and always giving advice and comfort Bod when he was in trouble. I love how the author portray that even they were ghost they still act and love like human-parents will. I feel like Bod never felt like an orphan because he got Mr and Mrs Owen as his awesome parents ever. Next we have Silas as Bod guardian. He is human being that lives in the graveyard to protect the graveyard. At first, I thought he was like an undertaker or something but he’s not. The graveyard is actually the old graveyard that nobody used anymore so there’s no need for the undertaker to live there. He such a mysterious character as he is the only human that Bod being associated with since the beginning but yet he’s not like any other human. To me who didn't even have any background or knowledge about myth and story about the unseen, it’s quite a new and exciting things. There are so many things that I need to fully understand before get into the next page but I love it. Well, ~~I do know now Silas is not a typical human being he’s a vampire they said.~~

However, I do feel a little bit incomplete as the story come to end. I get this same problem when it comes to good book, make me feel unsatisfied as I feel I need more pages or 2nd book. I want to know what happen after the book ends and I want to know how Bod’s doing now. Is he okay? Has he finally found his happy ending? Sigh..

Book Quotes

may contain spoiler

"Does it work? Are they happier dead?" "Sometimes. Mostly, no. It's like the people who believe they'l be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn't work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean"

"It's only death. I mean, all of my best friends are dead." "Yes". Silas hesitated. "They are. And they are, for the most part, done with the world. You are not. You're alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, dream anything. If you change the world, the world will change. Potential. Once you're dead, it's gone. Over. You've made what you've made, dreamed your dream, written your name. You may be buried here, you may even walk. But the potential is finished."

"Can't I stay here? In the graveyard?". "You must not," said Silas, more gently than Bod could remember him ever saying anything. "All the people here have had their lives, Bod, even if they were short ones. Now it's your turn. You need to live"

Bod said, "I want to see life. I want to hold it in my hands. I want to leave a footprint on the sand of a desert island I want to play football with people. I want," he said, and then he paused and he thought. "I want everything."

"Leave no path untaken," repeated Bod. "A difficult challenge, but I can try my best".

Further Reading Suggestion

The Ocean at The End of The Land

Title: Life in Outer Space
Author: Melissa Keil
Amazon Link: Buy now
Book Depository Link: Buy now
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/ Contemporary
Buy: Yes

Synopsis

Sam Kinnison is a geek, and he’s totally fine with that. He has his horror movies, his nerdy friends, World of Warcraft – and until Princess Leia turns up in his bedroom, he doesn’t have to worry about girls.

Then Sam meets Camilla. She’s beautiful, friendly and completely irrelevant to his life. Sam is determined to ignore her, except that Camilla has a life of her own – and she’s decided that he’s going to be part of it.

Sam believes that everything he needs to know he can learn from the movies … but now it looks like he’s been watching the wrong ones.

Book Review

I totally in love with this book. The main character in this book is Sam Kinnison. However, this book is not only about Sam. It is more than that. Every character in this book have it’s own story, problems and issues. Lets begin with our main character. He’s super intelligent (nerd) person who has his own circle of friend. He’s not popular and often bully by the jock and the popular kids in the school. I’m sure everyone think that this book will eventually turn Sam into popular kid blaa blaa..well he’s not. And I ensure you that Sam won’t be someone else he’s not by the end of this book. That’s why I love this book because it gives Sam freedom to be himself despite every issue and problem he’s going through.

Next we have three of Sam’s best friend which are Mike, Adrian and Allison. The three of them have totally different personality. Mike is more quite type. Adrian is super-loud and he likes to say whatever he wants. Allison is a girl who is more outgoing and she like to try something new. I love their friendship so much. I’m glad that they have each other because somehow I feel like in our life we do need someone that understand us especially when we don’t understand ourselves. I love how Mike understands Sam so much.Then we have Sam’s love interest which is Camilla Carter. She just a perfect girl. She’s outgoing and friendly to everyone. She’s got totally awesome personality. I do look up at her and feel like why can I be like her? She’s so positive and always happy. Although she has her own problems, she just doesn’t show it.The way Sam talks to her and calmed her down when she’s nervous is so cute. I wish someone will say the same thing to me.

It's good book about friendship, love and all the awkward stage that we've been through, It kind of remind me of when I was a simple minded girl and all I need is friend to talk to about those 'big' problems I had. For someone who loves Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, this is a perfect book. Oh..I'm looking forward to read Melissa Keil's other work. She's awesome!!

Book Quotes

(may contain spoilers)

Mike snorts. “ Doubtful. You aren’t exactly Mr Open Book. You forget, though – I know you. And I can’t watch you make yourself this miserable anymore. What hurts you hurts me and all that. Believe me, it’s the only thing that’s stopped me from punching you in the face for being so hopeless”