First Day by Allyson Braithwaite Condie

First Day by Allyson Braithwaite Condie

“In the sequel to Yearbook, the characters are in the middle of it all. Two and a half years after we left off, Andrea Beckett is a junior at Cornell University in New York. She's caught up in the whirlwind of finals, decisions about jobs . . . and decisions about love, too. Dave Sherman has returned home from his mission, and they will have to decide where their romance is going. In addition to everything else, Andrea just received the assignment to teach early-morning seminary to a group of eight high school students, who all have their own decisions to make and challenges to overcome. Meanwhile, Andrea's brother Ethan is serving a mission in Brazil. The language is new, the culture is different, and sometimes being Elder Beckett is harder than he expected.”*

Alright, so I read Yearbook a while back, and enjoyed some parts of it, but wasn’t really sold on how many point-of-view characters there were. I kept getting confused, and so I decided not to read First Day. Fast forward to visiting my in-laws house in December. I noticed vaguely that my sister-in-law was reading Yearbook, commented that I had read it. It was good, but not extremely great for me. Then later in the day, I see the book lying on her bedside table, and the condition it’s in. It’s practically falling apart because she’s read it so much. I also see First Day on her bookshelf in similar condition. So, I think about it and realize, you know I can see why she likes it.

My husband ran track through high school, she plays soccer like a crazy demon, and does track. They all have this loyalty to their high school that is annoying, but understandable. They all went to the same place, and all their friends went to the same high school. I moved so it wasn’t the same for me. So, I figured I gotta try this series out one more time, cause my sister-in-law likes it. So, I get First Day from the library. At first I was bored, but the more I read the more the characters really grew on me. I loved the setting of Ithaca, New York. There weren’t as many point-of-views, and so I was never confused, and really got to know the characters well, and got a full plot line. I felt like the first book had a disjoined plot feel to it, because there were so many point of view characters that you couldn’t do an entire plot arch with them all. This fact made me feel sort of dissatisfied with the book.

First Day was all around good writing, and a really good book. This time I could relate more to the characters making decisions in their lives, and falling in love, and worrying about the future. I related to it all in bunch of ways. I kept nodding my head and saying yeah, I remember being there, or yeah, I’m feeling that way right now. Yet, there aren’t easy answers for every character, though a few do get easy answers, and so I appreciated that. The balance and acknowledgement that some people have easy answers to decisions, others agonize for weeks until finally they just go with a direction they feel is right. I also really loved the subtle, gentle humor that I noticed in this book. I found myself smiling at a line of dialogue, or a humorous scene.

So, go forth and read my pretties. This is a series that I recommend.
Ally Condie’s Website:http://www.allysoncondie.com/

*excerpt from back of book

Isabelle Webb the Legend of the Jewel by N.C. Allen

Isabelle Webb The Legend of the Jewel by N.C. Allen

Isabelle Webb and her friend Sally Rhodes decide that they both need a break from the war-torn United States. Isabelle is recovering from an injury received as a Pinkerton spy, while trying to save President Lincoln from assassination. They decide to take a trip to India, and forget their troubles. Enroute they meet a handsome blacksmith from Utah named James Ashby, who is looking for his little brother, Phillip. Phillip was taken in by a con man Thaddeus Sparks, who was in search of a legendary jewel rumored to give the owner powers. While on board the steamer ship to Bombay they run into a woman, who claims to know about the jewel. It is suspicious that the Woman disappears the night before they reach India. They find themselves investigating not only the trail of a insane conman, but also a murder out for the jewel.

Traveling around British ruled India 1865 makes for an interesting setting and historical background for this novel. I was engaged by the suspense, but it took me a few chapters to really get into the story. The dialogue between the characters is sort of awkward because it sounded too modern, while trying to sound old. After reading the awkward first chapter I wondered if I would like the book. Yet, there are times the dialogue is spot on, and Isabella’s wit really shines. It was fun to read about a heroine that was competent, and not afraid to get in the middle of the action. I really got caught up in the storyline at the end and couldn’t put it down. I got really mad though because the story ended in a cliffhanger. It’s not a good one either, as in fair to the reader. I avoided writing this review for a few days because I was so mad about the ending. It seriously ended in the middle of a plot line. The book should have ended earlier or much later, but not where it did in my opinion. So, I would advise not reading the book until you can get the sequel, but saying that just makes me feel bitter because that’s like saying, “Oh, sure go pay $30 dollars for something that should have been one book in the first place. Let the publisher cheat you out of your hard earned money.” Yeah, still mad. Alas.

N.C. Allen Blog's at Ink Ladies:http://www.theinkladies.blogspot.com/

She also has her own blog at:http://ncallen.blogspot.com/

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Anna’s sister Kate is sick, very sick. She has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. That is how Anna was born. Her parents had her genetically engineered so that she would be a perfect match donor for Kate. Now she is tired of undergoing all those medical procedures even though she is not the sick one. Now that she is thirteen she wants to have more choice and control over what happens in her life and what happens to her body. She decided to find a good lawyer, and sue her parents for medical emancipation.

Eh, I had mixed feelings on this book. I read it for the ward book club. Overall, I didn’t like it much. I loved the concept of the story, it is full of all kinds of dramatic conflict, and conflicting emotions. It is definitely a book one can form a strong opinion on. The writing was beautiful, and the characters fairly well developed and interesting. Though, I found the plot to be a little cliché and long. The trial doesn’t happen until half way through the book, and I kept trying to get through bunches of pointless philosophical ramblings, flashbacks, and side stories to get to Anna’s story. In fact, I hated the Campbell and Julia side story, it was full of crude sexual references, and pointless details about their love affair fifteen years ago. The book is about more than Anna’s conflict, and includes the stories of all the members of the Fitzgerald family. Jesse is the rebellious teen that is on drugs, committing a string of arsons, and breaking the law (And also making the occasional crude sexual reference). His father is the captain of the firemen team, trying to protect both of his daughters. Sara Fitzgerald is determined to keep her daughter Kate alive, and just struggles to keep the family from drowning under the stress of her medical disease.

So, while I appreciated some aspects of the novel. I felt like the book was too literary for my taste. I like thoughtful, beautiful prose, but not when I have to wade through an extra 100 pages of it to get a story. I got tired of the style halfway into the novel and couldn’t wait to finish it, not because I was interested in the story, but because I was tired of reading it. Part of this may be because the story doesn’t reflect a lot of my values, and because I’m not really a mother yet. I can understand this story being more engrossing to those that are mothers.

Promises to Keep by Dean Hughes

Promises to Keep: Diane’s Story by Dean Hughes.

Dean Hughes’ popular series Hearts of the Children left Diane’s open enough that fans kept bugging him for the rest of her story. This novel tells what happened to Diane’s life after she left her abusive husband with her young daughter Jenny. Diane is a working single mom raising her daughter the best she can. Her ex-husband Greg refuses to pay child support, but will buy Jenny extravagant gifts. Jenny wants to believe that her father is a good man, and accepts the explanations that he gives for his faults. This causes a rift between Diane and her daughter, Jenny, who wants more independence. Diane has tried to play the dating game, but has repeatedly failed. Then she meets a soft-spoken businessman named Spencer, whose wife died of cancer. They are interested in one another, but with their children pulling them in different directions it looks like they will never be together.

I really love Dean Hughes style! He’s one of my favorite historical authors. He adds small, social details that make his characters feel authentic to the time period. Basically, I could go on about how I really love how he characterizes his characters, but that would bore you probably. So, I’ll just say that I really enjoyed this read, and couldn’t wait to see how Diane’s life turned out. I also cared about Jenny, and was worried she’d never get the clue about what her dad was really like. I was mildly annoyed at the ending because it was still a bit of a cliffhanger, but I don’t think it is Hughes style to solve everything perfectly like a really predictable romance novel. Alas. If you love the Hearts of the Children series then you’ll enjoy this one too.

Hughes Website:http://www.deanhughes.net/

The Edge on the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

The Edge on the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

Flaed has grown into a young lady, old enough to start learning how to read in the scriptorium. She has a knack for learning letters, and catches on quickly. She regrets that her study takes her away from wandering the forests and fields with her little brother. Yet, she regrets more that she will have to leave him at the end of the summer for her father has promised her to marry his ally, Ethelred of Mercia. Her father assigns her a bodyguard to keep her safe until she can be wed. Flaed thinks this is pointless until she runs away, and is almost kidnapped by strange men. Her bodyguard thinks that the best plan is to teach Flaed to defend herself, and so she learns to become a warrior. She never would have predicted that her skill would save not only her life, but the life of her men.

This book is a historical “what if?” book. The main character is based off of a woman named Aethelflaed, who lived in England during the 800’s. The author’s note at the end of the book labels her as “the greatest woman in Old English military history.” Historical texts apparently laude her role as a great queen, and successful war leader, but very little is told about her younger years, this story is imagined by the author in place of that void in the text. The author asked herself what stories a younger Aethelflaed might be involved in, and wrote this tale.

I really enjoyed reading this book, though I kind of worried about if I would like it when I read the plot on the jacket cover. I hoped it wouldn’t turn into a cliché romance novel when I read that Flaed’s father arranged a marriage for her, and set a bodyguard over her. I expected a love triangle, but there was none. In fact the romance was really low key, and more realistic than most arranged marriage stories. The story really was about Flaed, and how she developed into a woman of courage, strength, and skill. I loved the relationship she had with her brother because it reminds me of my brother and me. We used to hang out, and capture lizards, go fishing, and build forts together. Then we just kind of grew apart when we took different academic tracks. I miss those old fort building days. I refused to tell my hubby the plot of this book because I knew if I tried to explain it to him he would never read it. Yet, I got him to start reading it and he didn’t put it down until he finished it. Great little historical novel with a strong, intelligent female character, and heroic, noble men. I would totally recommend.

Author Bio: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,0_1000052493,00.html

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr


Jenna Vaughn feels like she is living a lie. She goes to a small private school, has a cute boyfriend, and has tons of friends. Yet, she has squished a small part of her old self into a place no one can see—the small nine-year-old fat girl, who used to cry, and love Cameron Quick is gone. She buried that part of herself when her dearest friend Cameron left her for good. That is until Cameron reappears at her high school reminding her of her not only of her old-self, but old pains and hurts they shared in the past.

I totally shouldn’t have liked this book. It gets several checks on the “I don’t like read this type of book” list. Yet, I was hooked in the very first chapter, and couldn’t put the book down. I love how Jena describes the memories of her childhood, because I could relate. I remember the weird friends you had, but never really remember the details of how you can up with psycho schemes. I remember my friend and I tried to use umbrellas to fly away on the wind. It was pretty funny and never worked(those dang umbrellas always broke), and then one day she missed school, and I cried cause I was sad that she wasn’t there to try to fly away on umbrellas at recess. I was a weird kid, huh?

Another thing I loved was Karl the stepfather figure in the story. He is such a good guy, which is totally against the stereotype in these stories. This story is intense, emotional, and has flashbacks to a child abuse scene, which I skipped in large chunks, as it appears in various parts of the book. I really hate reading abuse stories. A lot. I usually stop reading them, because they make me really depressed. Yet, this one really drew me in and touched me, because the author portrays the Jena as a courageous little creature, with a brave and loving heart. The trick is that she has to remember that, while she comes to terms with her past, and figure out what is between her and her good friend Cameron.

Whitney Awards Announced....

So, I checked the whitney awards website at 7:05 am this morning to see the winners, and then had to rush off to work. I'm way excited. I know I should be more excited about, you know, the Newbery's that recently were announced. Yet, I'm more excited about this announcement. I want the LDS fiction market to get better and I think this award is a big step. So go check out the best LDS books of 2008

http://www.whitneyawards.com/2008finalists.html

Should I try to read them all? How many of you out there are going to try and read them all? I've read several, but I counted and I'd need to read 21 and some of them are in the middle of a seires. For example the Wyrmling Horde by Dave Farland is the tenth book in a series, I think. I don't know how that will work. I hate reading in the middle of a seires. I have a thing with reading them all in order.

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale

I have to admit I was hesitant to read Rapunzel’s revenge. Not so much because it is a graphic novel, but because Rapunzel looks like a cowgirl on the front cover. I don’t have anything against westerns, but Rapunzel is supposed to be romantic, classical, and sort of renaissance-ish. Definitely, not a western. So, though I love Shannon Hale, I hesitated. Then I just needed to read something new, and a little different. I haven’t been able to get into reading lately. Working a lot, and snatching bits of a novel at lunch break kind of ruins the reading experience.

So, I decided to try Rapunzel’s revenge, and I really loved it. I picked up the book and couldn’t put it down until I finished. What a wonderful thing! I finished a book in one sitting (okay there are lots of pictures…I know.). Still three hours later and I was finished. (This may be long by some standards, but I read more slowly than reading maniacs, like my husband, who finish 500 page novels in a day.) It was really fun.

The book starts out with Rapunzel wandering a beautiful villa, having nothing to do but practice rope tricks with some of the servants. She lives with her mother, or who she thinks is her mother. With nothing to do, Rapunzel naturally wants to see over the huge wall that surrounds the villa, and decides to sneak over it one day. She doesn’t expect to find that the land beyond the wall looks like a wasted desert, full of slaves, who work the mines. She also meets someone important to her from her past, and learns that she was deceived. Rapunzel is so angry that she takes on Mother Gothel, and lands herself up in a tall tree tower. She determines to find a way out, so she stop Gothel from exploiting her subjects, and save those she cares about.

This book is way fun, and it is cool to see Rapunzel whip her braids around, and take down outlaws, wild beasts, and evil fake-mothers. There were a few cheesy parts, but this book is an overall winner. I hope you take the time to read it.

Comfortable in my Own Genes by Tamra Norton

Comfortable in my Own Genes by Tamra Norton

Dani has big dreams of being a journalist, and so she joins the newspaper staff in her high school. She didn’t expect to run into Jarret, an old childhood friend that used to live down the street. Yet, his appearance has changed so dramatically that she almost doesn’t recognize him, skinny and fit after years of obesity. She is thrilled when one of her first assignments is to interview Matt, an exchange student from New Zealand. Mr. Beautiful has an accent that makes her insides melt, but she has competition in the form of her beautiful sister Trista. Dani has lived in her more beautiful and popular older sister’s shadow her whole life, and Dani can tell that Matt likes her. During homecoming royalty nominations someone plays a cruel joke on Jarret. Yet, Dani is determined that the joke will be on the pranksters, and she’ll make Jarret into the homecoming King. Teaming up with her popular sister, Dani works to defend her friend, and finds the appeal of “Matt the Beautiful” fading, as she spends more time with Jarret.

I enjoyed this high school fiction read. Though, I felt that some of the dialogue was awkward and forced, especially in a few beginning scenes. Some of the religious aspects are incorporated a little awkwardly, as in they become a little too obvious or preachy. I felt these were more minor flaws as for the most part the characters remained consistent and interesting. The main character Dani narrates in a humorous tone, yet the author still tackles serious themes—obesity, bullies, courage, and self-worth. She really hits a nice balance between being funny, and telling a meaningful story.

I felt that the plot moved forward at a nice pace, and had conflicts that I could really get behind. I found myself hoping that Jarrett would be vindicated, and that Dani would figure out her love life. I also really like how the romantic interest flows in the book because the author creates a good chemistry between them.

Overall, I had a good impression of this book and think that those that are in the Kay Lynn Magnum or Allie Condie camps will enjoy this read also. Though, this book is much more funny, and light.

Tamra Norton's Website:http://www.tamranorton.com/index.html

Blogs at:http://www.theinkladies.blogspot.com/

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Hattie Brooks has always been shunted from relative to relative since her mother and father died when she was little. While she is living with her critical Aunt, who is ready to send her to work at a boarding house, she receives an invitation from her Uncle Chester. He has left his 360 acre land in Montana too her in his will, if she is willing to come out and claim it. Hattie takes a train after gathering supplies and settles in on the land, but she has to fulfill the requirements to prove the homesteaders claim. Under the big sky in Montana Hattie works hard on her land, and comes to love her neighbors dearly. She’ll have to work hard in order to prove up on her claim, and earn the title of homesteader by herself.

This is a delightful read about a girl who homesteads in Montana. The characters in the small town of Vida are entertaining with their odd advice, habits, and personalities. The book is set during WWI, and since Hattie’s dearest friend is married to a German the book deals with a lot of the prejudice during that time. Though, I felt that this portrayal was one-sided. Sometimes I feel like historical authors try to give a message, but do so without showing the other viewpoint. Even if this viewpoint is selfish, ugly, or unflattering it was still very real. Everyone that is likable in the story has the “correct” view, but all the unlikable characters are evil and have the “bad” view. I find this a simplistic and unrealistic view of both history and human nature, but this is the pet peeve of a history major so take it for what you will. It really shouldn’t bother me so much, and I’m sort of irrational when it comes to this sort of thing.

Despite my crazy history view I really enjoyed this novel overall, though it did have a few plot things that bugged me, where the author picked up a detail and then dropped it later on in the plot when the action started. For example, say a boy goes back to his locker to get his book, and then runs into a big fight in the hall and a bunch of stuff happens, and the boy doesn’t get the book. Yet, it isn’t mentioned later that he needed the book when he finally got back to class or that he even realized he forgot the book later. Yeah, it really bugs me when authors leave out those type of little details assuming the reader is going to forget/not mind that the thread was dropped. I also thing that this is a little on the irrational side of as far as annoyances go.

From the length of my annoyances and critiques you would think that I wouldn’t recommend this book, but I think it is an entertaining story, with fun characters. If you don’t pick apart stuff when you read like I apparently do then you should try out the book because it is a fun, cozy, clean read. I also really liked the ending, though most people won’t. Maybe it is because my life hasn’t turned out perfect the last year or so either, and I could relate to the character’s experience, and even heartache when plans don't work out the way you expected them to. So, if the book sounds interesting go and read it!

Author's Website:http://www.kirbylarson.com/