Crack Up To Be

Cracked Up To Be
by Courtney Summers

Perfect Parker Fadley isn't so perfect anymore.  She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school.  Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn't something she can say out loud.  It isn't even something she can say to herself.  A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault.  If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her. -Back o' the Book

I was initially drawn to this story because I never liked the cheerleading, popular in school thing (I was a band/drama/art nerd) and I wanted to see why she left her in crowd. I was also curious as to what her big secret was. I had a hard time grasping onto her personality during the first chapter or so because what she was doing was kind of opposite of what she was thinking. After I got a hold of her, I really enjoyed her sarcasm but got frustrated when she continually pushed people further and further away.

The book was riddled with language, but then again, so was High School. It was a quick and engrossing read that had me curious the whole way through because the author did a great job giving you little tid bits of information that you slowly piece together until the final puzzle is revealed.

The Green Mile

The Green Mile
by Stephen King

Welcome to Cold Mountain Penitentiary, home to the Depression-worn men of E Block. Convicted killers all, each awaits his turn to walk the Green Mile, keeping a date with "Old Sparky," Cold Mountain's electric chair. Prison guard Paul Edgecombe has seen his share of oddities in his years working the Mile. But he's never seen anyone like John Coffey, a man with the body of a giant and the mind of a child, condemned for a crime terrifying in its violence and shocking in its depravity. In this place of ultimate retribution, Edgecombe is about to discover the terrible, wondrous truth about Coffey, a truth that will challenge his most cherished beliefs...and yours. - Back o' the Book

I had heard about this book many times over the years and even saw a small portion of the movie. I recently found it for a dollar so I decided to give it a go and boy, was I sucked in! From the very start this book was completely engrossing. The characters were all so diverse and developed, it was like a movie playing in my head. I never wanted to put this book down.

It does have quite a bit of language and some more adult scenes, but I really really enjoyed it. I loved the way King created the language and set the time period so well. I also was very in love with the ending of the book. There are few novels out there that I can say I was completely satisfied with the ending, but this was sure one of them. A must read!
-Recommended (for adults)

Feed

Feed
by M. T. Anderson


In a future world where internet connections feed directly into the consumer’s brain, thought is supplemented by advertising banners, and language has gone into a steep decline, a little love story unfolds. Titus, an average kid on a weekend trip to the moon, meets Violet, a brainy girl who has decided to try to fight the feed. Assaulted by a hacker who interrupts their connection, they struggle to understand what has happened to them – and to everyone around them. -Back o' the Book

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love this book. I've read it more times than I can remember and just thinking about it makes me want to read it again. It takes some time to get used to the jargon used in the futuristic setting but after a while it starts to make sense.

This book is all about consumerism and the degradation of language and writing (most kids growing up don't know how to write with their hands, thanks to their feed they are connected to). I found this book to be a warning sign for the direction we as a nation and as a species are heading to. Very powerful stuff if you stop to think about it and not just read the words. I've forced my sister to read this and now she is in love with it too and rereads it occasionally.

The one downside to it is the amount of foul language ridden throughout the book, although it's just another example of the degradation of society that takes place.

-Highly Recommended

Willow

Willow
by Julia Hoban


Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow's parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy, one sensitive, soulful boy, discovers Willow's secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the "safe" world Willow has created for herself upside down. -Back o' the Book

The subject of this book is very sensitive but I like reading books like that. I have to say, however, that the characters and the way it was written was a little too dramatic for me. Not even the good kind of dramatic but the middle school "my life is horrible" kind of stuff. Willow did go through a lot and she was justified in her pain but after a while I wanted to smack her and tell her to accept the help and get better. I know I'm a hypocrite when I say that but maybe if the characters were more mature I would be a little more forgiving.

It was an alright book. Definitely for a younger group (just not too young). I don't think I would recommend it to many people, but who knows, you may just love it.

If I Stay

If I Stay
by Gale Forman


In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck... A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands. - Back o' the Book

I thought this book had a very interesting premise, it reminded me of The Lovely Bones, which I should also do a review on. I was curious how the author would pace it since Mia is almost dead and just floating around but she brought you back to many flashbacks of her life. I would say this was beautifully written and hard to put down. The main character was very different from most female leads to see in Young Adult novels. It is pretty sad in some areas and I found myself torn, just like her, about whether she should stay or go.

I would recommend this to older YA readers since there are some gory scenes and death is a bit of a touchy subject.

-Recommended

Juliet Immortal

Juliet Immortal
by Stacy Jay

The most tragic love story in history . . . 
     Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But Romeo didn't anticipate that Juliet would be granted eternal life, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light.
     For 700 years, Juliet has struggled to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent, while Romeo has fought for the dark side, seeking to destroy the human heart. Until now.
     Now Juliet has found her own forbidden love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy their happiness.  - Back o' the Book

     As a fan of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, I couldn't help but get this. I was never much into Romeo but it was written so beautifully that it became an instant favorite. This book is much much later. The premise was interesting but the execution was not what I has expected. There were interesting characters all very diverse in personality and voice and it kept me guessing.
     I could almost say there were a little too many twists or "rules" to the book. I can't exactly explain that because there is a whole intricate system of the "higher beings" in the book that was very confusing and not much light was shed on the subject. I think it made for a good read and if you're a fan of romance then this would be a nice addition to your collection.

-Recommended 

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead 
by Julie Anne Peters

     Daelyn has suffered major psychological damage from years of being bullied. The torment and embarrassment she received because of her weight started her downhill slide into despair. Daelyn has lost her desire to live and failed at several attempts to end her life. Her latest failure has left her unable to talk and on 24-hour suicide watch. Her parents barely trust her to go to school.
     Daelyn is biding her time. She only has 23 days until her Date of Determination. She discovers the Through the Light website on accident, but finds it to be a welcome change of pace to the other suicide websites and discussion boards she’s visited in the past. Instead of preaching and warning her against her decision, the website provides rational and informational posts and discussions about ending her life. - Back o' the Book
     You may have read that and thought "Oh my gosh, that sounds horrible!"  You're right, it does, but I loved the book. At almost 200 pages, this is a quick read and utterly engrossing. I had a very hard time putting it down. Although it deals with a very touchy subject, it is beautifully written. It is very blunt and the main character goes through some horrible bullying so you really feel for her. Her development is subtle but all pulls together at the end. I found her likable and real which made the story and situation believable.
     To say I enjoy depressing books is an understatement and this one was undeniably depressing; however, it does leave you with a good feeling and helps you appreciate the life and time you have been given. I won't spoil the ending but it was enough closure to satisfy. It's a quick book so you won't be trapped in the dreariness for too long and I would say it's worth it in the end.

-Recommended