REVIEW: You Know What You Have to Do, by Bonnie Shimko



You Know What You Have To Do

Funny, fiesty, fifteen-year-old Mary Magdalene Feigenbaum (otherwise known as Maggie) suddenly faces more than the usual YA concerns: a voice in her head is telling her to kill people. Not just anyone – each time the target is someone who has done something terrible to a person Maggie cares for.

"You know what you have to do," the voice commands.

Maggie struggles to resist, but the voice is relentless. With rising suspense, this story of psychological horror introduces a narrator whose own unique voice and irreverent humor are unforgettable – an unlikely hero fighting a desperate battle against incomprehensible evil.


This is one of the most difficult psychological thrillers for YAs I've read.

It's a little bit Dexter-ish, I'll admit. The voice in Maggie's head doesn't tell her to kill people, all willy-nilly like. No, it does have a purpose. She only kills those who have hurt others she cares about or who have upset her. She does fight the voice and not kill innocents or people who just really don't know any better. Oh..and apparently, if you threaten the life of the kid who is blackmailing you because he knows of your first kill...well, you get away with everything!

Maggie's voice (her own voice, not the one in her head) is the perfect portrayal of a TV-styled teenager. She can't be reasoned with, even when she learns the truth. She spends the entire book blasting her mom because she thinks she's a slut--even after she learns that that really isn't the case. She complains about her friends constantly--all 2 of them--and then alienates them. (Of course, her "best" friend tells her that sitting in the back row of a movie theater is just "asking" for sex and she should apologize for nearly being raped while on a date. So..that one might be worth alienating.) She's just not a strong character. I tend to want my protagonists to be a bit better than the "average" teenager as portrayed by the media.

It's really an interesting premise, but it could have been done SO much better. There are just too many holes in the story, and not enough development of what is an obvious psychological condition. There's no story line here, just what feels like random scenes from a couple school years.

What do you think??

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook galley from Amazon Children's Publishing through the netGalley publisher/reader connection program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

REVIEW: Excessive Entanglement, by Nick d'Arbeloff

Excessive Entanglement 
 2012

President Virginia Belknap is one year into her second term when a NASA scientist discovers a new planet with an atmosphere similar to Earth. Embracing the event, Belknap turns a one-way mission to colonize this new world into her grand calling. It is the early 2030s—a time when Earth is struggling under the ill effects of climate change and a growing population, and the mission seizes the world’s imagination. But as the coolheaded and competent Belknap starts to assemble experts from different nations to plan all aspects of this illustrious enterprise, including the new planet’s constitution, religious conservatives—led by an earnest evangelical named Randall Reese—rise up in outrage and indignation. Reese and his followers see the plans put forth by Belknap’s Mission Council as the blueprint for a Godless world and the tragic loss of what could be a second Eden. 

As the political machinations of Reese and others put the launch at risk, a broader and darker conspiracy takes shape that threatens to obliterate the ship, its crew, and even the new planet itself. Belknap, her own life in danger, is forced to battle Reese, expose the conspiracy, and regain control of the mission before the launch window closes. But not before the forces at play spark a bonfire of deceit, murder, and domestic terrorism. While taking us on a wild, action-packed ride from Washington DC to Beijing to the L5 Spaceport, Excessive Entanglement holds a mirror to modern society, creatively exploring the political and constitutional issues presented by mankind’s first opportunity to create a more perfect world from the ground up.

The first novel from Nick d'Arbeloff (not a YA writer) is awesome. I expected some generalized awkwardness, especially being a self-published piece, but there isn't any. I don't know who edited for him, but the two did an amazing job on this novel.

It's a political thriller, a near-future science fiction story, a to-the-point look at religion in politics, and a mystery. How in the world does a first time author accomplish all 4? Beautifully...that's how.

There's no one main character, but several and someone to represent each facet of the story, and of the work to essentially create a society on another planet. I didn't "fall in love" with any one of them, as I'm prone to do in most books, but that worked for me in this one. I didn't want to  get too close to any one character (though I will admit to rooting for the romantic relationship that evolved).

This is not one of my "fluff" reads, that I rush through in a day for escape. You have to think, and be prepared that (even though it's fiction), it will make you think--just what would we do if we could essentially start over on creating a human society?

While this book isn't a YA book, or even marketed to YAs in any specific way, it's one that your intense readers will enjoy. Those who aren't hardcore sci-fi fans will appreciate that no aliens make an appearance, but there's just enough science to capture your general science fiction crowd.

What do you think??

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook galley from Smith Publicity through the netGalley publisher/reader connection program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

REVIEW: If You Find Me, by Emily Murdoch

If You Find Me
2013

Fourteen-year-old Carey and six-year-old Jenessa have been living in the woods with their mother for as long as they can remember; the sheltering trees and a broken-down camper are all they know. But what they’ve never been told is that Carey vanished from the real world ten years ago, when their mother took her, causing an uproar in the media—and in her father's life.

Now, abandoned by the mother they trusted, they’re often left alone for long periods of time to fend for themselves—until, in one moment, everything changes. They're found by Carey's father and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world, one of shopping malls, shiny appliances, new clothes and mouth-watering food. Carey desperately wants to believe in this new reality, but is held back by a deep and painful loyalty to her mentally ill mother, who gave Carey her violin and taught her how to play the soaring music that helps her survive. 

And then there’s the other piece of Carey’s past that haunts her . . . the story of what happened to her and Jenessa on that dark night in the woods . . . the reason Jenessa hasn't spoken a word in over a year. Will Carey ever be able to trust her father and his family enough to fit into this new life? Will Jenessa finally break her silence and ruin the cocoon of safety that Carey’s built so carefully around them? And what will happen if the secret comes out?

You know, I get these books from NetGalley, read the blurb, request it, and by the time I actually read the book, I don't remember why I requested it or what the blurb said. Sometimes that works out okay, other times I'm doing a good job of scratching my head.

This time, this book seriously snagged me. It's face-paced and compelling. There are some heart-breaking moments, impossible for this reader not to tear up over. And though it is YA (not simply because Carey is 14), it doesn't read like YA. Emily Murdoch hasn't "written down" to her audience, but instead assumes an honest maturity. Carey is a bit on the too mature side, which is obvious from some of the things her mother made her endure before disappearing, but Murdoch keeps her (and the reader) still on the side of innocence. While there is no doubt what happened in the forest in Tennessee, the memory flashbacks are not gruesome or too detailed.

I read that this is Emily Murdoch's debut novel. What a great start to what will hopefully be a prolific career. I love her characters--she's definitely got everyone mastered. From Carey's too grown up, too mature, too naive personality, down to Janessa's sweet, innocent, desperate one. I forgot I was reading fiction, and for realistic fiction, that's perfect.

But, Ms. Murdoch, if you make me cry like that again, I'm not sure I'll read your 3rd book. (Just kidding...you're on my list of authors to watch and wait for.)

What do you think??

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook galley from St. Martin's Press through the netGalley publisher/reader connection program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

REVIEW: The Madness Underneath, by Maureen Johnson

 

The Madness Underneath

After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory’s brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she’s become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city’s secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it’s too late.

The sequal to Johnson's The Name of the Star is good....but not as good as the first book in the series.

Rory is "home" recovering after the events of the first book. And it takes a while to get past that part. Plus, "something" has happened to change her--literally--and you really have to have read the first book to catch on. (And recently read it, probably, since I didn't remember what had happened.)

The first book had more ghost-y stuff. This one had some significant scenes, but really didn't further that story line just a whole lot. There was, of course, a paranormal mystery, but it was centered more on humans who were caught up in the paranormal.

Rory is more developed, but still a bit immature. Stephen (the not-so-paranormal mystery character in the first book) is given a back story, that explains his nature a lot. The other members of the team don't get much play in this book, just enough to remind you they are there.

This felt less like a continuation of a story and more like a "check-in with the characters" book. It's not bad, it just left me wanting. There is a great cliff hanger though, and zero doubt that there will be a third installment.

What do you think??

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook galley from Penguin Young Readers Group through the netGalley publisher/reader connection program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A brand new library...

Today, at our district's alternative campus, I gave the kids a gift.

A library.

It doesn't have a lot of books. 

Yet.

It doesn't have any comfy seating or lots of posters. 

Yet.

There's no reading challenge or program, or even an adult who staffs it daily.

Yet.

But you know what? For kids who didn't have access to reading material that wasn't a textbook or other curriculum material, it's a chance to read just because they want to. Or maybe they need to for test points. Or maybe they just want to look at some pictures. 

It's a chance for them to read, and maybe connect with a book. And maybe we "save" them. Who knows.

What do you think??

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook galley from Enter Text Here through the netGalley publisher/reader connection program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.