The Suburban Strange by Nathan Kotecki

The Suburban Strange by Nathan Kotecki
"Shy Celia Balaustine is new to Suburban High, but a mysterious group of sophomores called the Rosary has befriended her. Friends aside, Celia soon discovers something is not quite right at Suburban. Girls at the school begin having near-fatal accidents on the eve of their sixteenth birthdays. Who is causing the accidents, and why? As Celia’s own birthday approaches, she is inexorably drawn into an underground conflict between good and evil—the Kind and the Unkind—that bubbles beneath Suburban High."- summary from Amazon

I've been meaning to read this book for over a year now; I received an ARC of it way back in August 2012 and Kotecki is a friend of mine (kinda; we're like in between acquaintances and friends since we chat every so often online and have only met up in person twice, lol). I really enjoyed this book, but it definitely requires the reader to be in a certain kind of mood. It's really an atmospheric novel that pulls the reader in and makes the world of the novel feel so real. This is a magical realism book, which I really like; there is a conflict between good and evil but for most of the book, it's mentioned offhandedly and doesn't really all come to fruition until the last 100 pages or so. That doesn't necessarily mean it feels tacked on, but rather it just makes the suspense of it all slowly build until the climax. It's also an interesting take on good and evil- the Kind and Unkind- that makes the novel so different. Kotecki does a good job of introducing this concept and explaining the magic of it all.

Celia is an interesting main character, but she definitely took some getting used to. In the beginning of the novel, she's very unsure of herself and that comes across to me as a reader as a character I can't really grasp onto if she has no idea of her sense of self. It takes a little bit of time for her to find her voice but once she does, it definitely made the novel fly by. I also really enjoyed all of Celia's new friends, but especially Marco and Brendan, a gay couple (of course I'd latch on to them, lol). It's nice to see gay characters just being themselves without really any drama (aside from a talk later on in the book which can apply to any kind of relationship)- they aren't picked on (to my knowledge; if it happened, it was a minor incident) and they're out and proud. It's such a good, positive message.

The romance is a little bit of cuteness amidst all this other stuff; I like them together, but I do wish there had been a little more fleshing out of Tomasi and his home life. There just wasn't enough of him in the book, so it was a little hard to really get to know him. I hope that happens in the sequel.

Overall, a very good debut and I'm excited to see what adventures await Celia in the next book, Pull Down the Night (which is out now).

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Spirit Animals Books 1&2 by Brandon Mull and Maggie Stiefvater + Interview

Wild Born and Hunted
"Four children separated by vast distances all undergo the same ritual, watched by cloaked strangers. Four flashes of light erupt, and from them emerge the unmistakable shapes of incredible beasts - a wolf, a leopard, a panda, a falcon. Suddenly the paths of these children - and the world - have been changed forever.

Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers . . . and on you."- summary from Amazon

So I really enjoyed the Infinity Ring series (still have to read Books 6 and 7 though) and was excited to hear about a new interactive series from Scholastic, especially one that involved the awesome Maggie Stiefvater. This new series is an action-adventure fantasy that I really think kids will love. It's told in third person omniscient, so not only does the reader get to know the four main kids very well, but it occasionally glimpses into the enemy's camps as well, which makes for some very compelling reading.

Each book centers around a quest to get a talisman from the other great Spirit Animals to aid in the battle between good and evil, though Mull also had to set up the world and the characters, which takes up a good portion of the first book. I really like the four main kids and I think readers will really relate to them and their hopes and fears. My favorite would probably have to be Rollan just because of how sarcastic he is; that always bonds me to any character.

Overall, a fascinating new multi-platform series from Scholastic and I'm eager for the upcoming books (written by the likes of Sean Williams & Garth Nix, Shannon Hale and Marie Lu!)!

and here's an interview with Maggie Stiefvater, author of Book 2: Hunted:

1) This is your first middle-grade book after having written multiple books for the YA audience. Was it difficult to write for that age group?

I knew before I began that I couldn’t include swearing or kissing or grueling death scenes, so that wasn’t a shock — but I did find out during the writing process that middle grade editors don’t approve of the lopping off of arms. The most challenging bit, actually, was curbing my desire to agonize over prose. Ordinarily I take great pride in the sound of my YA novels — I read them out loud to be sure the words sound agreeable and musical to my ear. But in a fast-paced novel for younger readers like this? It turned out that I read this one out loud too, but for an entirely different reason. I have two kids who are 8 & 9 years old, and we read books out loud nearly every night. I ended up reading most of Hunted out loud in my office to be sure that it sounded like something a parent and child could read out loud at the end of the day.


2) You'll probably be asked this all over the place but I want to ask anyway- what would you want your Spirit Animal to be if you went through that ceremony?

I already went through that ceremony, James, right after I sold Shiver and came of age. My ’73 Camaro appeared and we’ve been bonded for life ever since.


3) What are you currently working on, and can you tell us anything about it? Do you think you'll ever write middle-grade again?

I am working on the third book in the Raven Cycle and also a collaboration with my critique partners, Tessa Gratton and Brenna Yovanoff. I also have another secret project in the works that I can’t say anything about.

I’d definitely write middle grade again. It was incredibly satisfying to write something my kids could read as soon as I was done with it.


4) With this series (as well as others by Scholastic like Infinity Ring and 39 Clues), various authors write a different book in the series. How did that process work? Was it hard to dive in and write this sequel when it wasn't something you had started/created?

I have to admit that I thought it would be a breeze. After all, I ran a short-story blog with Tessa and Brenna for years [www.merryfates.com]. Years! We put up new short fiction three times a week for the first year, then every week for years after, often writing stories to a common prompt. On Monday, we’d decide “we’re all writing a retelling of Snow White.” Friday, I’d write my version. Or we’d decide “the stories must be about puddles.” And we’d all write about puddles. So I thought I had the skillset down pat. And yet, when it came time to write Hunted, I discovered it really didn’t help at all. Because with Spirit Animals, I inherited the characters from book one. It was only the plot I was supposed to contribute.

But-but-but- characters are my super power! You want me to work without my POWERS?

It was quite a learning curve. But I threw my back into it. And sneakily, I managed to invent a few characters as well.


5) What book(s) are you reading, or are looking forward to reading?

Right now, my son is reading books in the I Survived series. Have you seen them? They’re these really short, dire tales that are called things like I SURVIVED THE BOMBINGS ON PEARL HARBOR or I SURVIVED THE SHARK ATTACKS OF 1917. He has me read them out loud. Now those are some middle grades with some lopping.

Personally, I’m reading a lot of research for Raven Boys III. I’m about halfway through A SINGER OF TALES, which is about the process of learning epic poetry. It is not thrilling, but I persist.



FTC: Received e-galleys from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Everbound by Brodi Ashton
"Ever since Nikki Beckett watched as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the dark Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity, she's been living a borrowed life. Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen—and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to help in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself. Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they'd anticipated—and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack—even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own."- summary from Amazon

I was hooked by Everneath and was so excited to start Everbound which was a wonderfully quick, compelling read. I flew through the book, loving every moment of Nikki's adventure in the Everneath with Cole and his friends. Ashton did a great job setting up the world and throwing some interesting twists into the whole mythology of the place. I loved Nikki and Cole's interactions, though I don't want them together romantically; they're fun bantering buddies to me and that's all. Jack and Nikki belong together and it was so sweet to see Nikki fighting so hard for him and their love. The ending was intriguing and I'm eager to see how things turn out in the final book, Evertrue.

Overall, a wonderfully imaginative spin on the Persephone myth and a solid second book in the trilogy.

FTC: Borrowed hardcover from library. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown
"Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he'll forget about her while he's away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh's friends suggest she text him a picture of herself -- sans swimsuit -- to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits "send."

But when Kaleb and Ashleigh go through a bad breakup, Kaleb takes revenge by forwarding the text to his baseball team. Soon the photo has gone viral, attracting the attention of the school board, the local police, and the media. As her friends and family try to distance themselves from the scandal, Ashleigh feels completely alone -- until she meets Mack while serving her court-ordered community service. Not only does Mack offer a fresh chance at friendship, but he's the one person in town who received the text of Ashleigh's photo -- and didn't look."-summary from Goodreads

I absolutely loved Brown's debut and have been meaning to continue reading her, but so many books, so little time! I'm glad I was able to squeeze this one in though. It's a fantastic novel about a current hot topic and Brown handles it deftly (just like with Hate List).

The book goes back and forth between before/during the scandal and after the scandal, creating a wonderful page-turner that's hard to put down. Ashleigh's voice is spot-on and I really got invested in her life and these events. It was nice to see the whole story- how Kaleb and Ashleigh met, their dating, the long-distance relationship, the breakup, the scandal, and how things turn out after the ordeal. It provided for some great characterization and emotional arcs, and really getting into the history of these two.

The interactions between Mack and Ashleigh were written very well, and watching their friendship grow over the course of the novel was refreshing to see. Too much of YA is so focused on the romance and insta-love (not that I mind romance, but it can get a bit much at times) that it was a pleasure to read about two people who strike up a friendship slowly and gradually. It felt very realistic.

Overall, a stunning, poignant novel and one that makes me want to go back and read the two books I missed, and you can be sure I'll be keeping an eye out for any future books from Brown.

FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan

The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan
"Carrying just a suitcase and an old laundry bag filled with clothes, Kasienka and her mother are immigrating to England from Poland. Kasienka isn't the happiest girl in the world. At home, her mother is suffering from a broken heart as she searches for Kasienka's father. And at school, Kasienka is having trouble being the new girl and making friends. The only time she feels comforted is when she's swimming at the pool. But she can't quite shake the feeling that she's sinking. Until a new boy swims into her life, and she learns that there might be more than one way to stay afloat."- summary from Amazon

I had Crossan's Breathe in my TBR pile and had been meaning to pick it up, but I made my way to her contemporary debut first. It did also make things easier that this was written in verse, which therefore means a quicker read. It was easy to fit into my reading schedule. It'll be interesting to read Breathe after this and compare the two; they're both completely opposite ends of the spectrum.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. Immigration is not something you really read much about, and Crossan does a good job of writing it realistically. It's also interesting too reading about two different countries- Kasienka comes from Poland and reflects on those memories, and now she's in London making new ones. Most books I read are set in the US, so it was nice to have a break from that though London isn't exactly all sunshine and roses for Kasienka. There's a bullying aspect covered here, and it was heartbreaking to read about her problems fitting in. It's a very poignant book.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book to those interested in tales of bullying and verse novels. Crossan does a wonderful job packing in the emotion and turmoil of Kasienka's life into so few words. While I'm even more excited to read her other book Breathe, I do hope she writes more in verse as well.

FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.