Title: Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release date: February 26, 2013 (North American release)
ISBN-10: 1250012570
ISBN-13: 9781250012579
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley

"Bono met his wife in high school," Park says.
"So did Jerry Lee Lewis," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be," she says, "we’re sixteen."
"What about Romeo and Juliet?"
"Shallow, confused, then dead."
''I love you," Park says.
"Wherefore art thou," Eleanor answers.
"I’m not kidding," he says.
"You should be."

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.



My Review:
Eleanor & Park is the story of adolescence and first love. It takes place in the 1980s in the Midwestern United States; Omaha, to be exact. Eleanor is the new girl at school. She's described as being slightly overweight with wild red hair and dresses in ill-fitting clothes. She's a target for your typical high school bullies, and unfortunately her home life isn't any better. Park is well-liked at school and has a loving family, but he still stands out from everyone else. He's half-Korean in a neighbourhood full of white kids, his younger brother looks way older than him, and he'd rather read comic books than play sports. Both are misfits in different ways, and after begrudgingly encountering each other one day on the bus ride to school, they find themselves drifting closer and closer together.

As the title suggests, the book focused on Eleanor and Park's relationship, all the way from the ground up. It started with Eleanor getting on the school bus and being forced to pick a seat, only to discover that everyone already had some pre-arranged seating plan. One kid, Park, speaks up (unwillingly and rather rudely) and lets her take the seat next to him. They didn't interact initially -- in fact, they developed preconceived notions about each other that made them speak pretty foully about one another. But after a while, they started discovering common interests, taught each other a thing or two along the way (which was done beautifully, by the way, through wordless interactions) and found themselves enjoying each other's company. By the middle of the book, they were clearly past sneaky glances and silently sharing comic books. It moved a tad fast for me at this point (there's a line where Eleanor stated that he made her want to have his babies and give him both of her kidneys. Woah. And they were only setting up a phone date!), but that aside, the build-up prior to that was near perfection. They fell in love, though Eleanor kept her guard up for most of the book, not wanting this part of her life destroyed by her situation at home. Eleanor lacked self-confidence, but Park always made her feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, even though everyone around them didn't quite understand why they picked each other.

They weren't only great together, but they were likeable as individual characters as well. I feel like this is such a plus when it comes to romances. It pains me when I love two people together, but not apart; that just emphasizes their dependency on each other. I loved Eleanor. She was snarky and hi-laaarious, and she liked the Beatles, so obviously she had great taste in music. Park, on the other hand, didn't know much about the Beatles. Which was a shame, but he made up for it with his adorable love for comic books and nerd references. They were completely different from each other, from their looks and personalities to their families. Eleanor's family was broken and impoverished while Park's was whole and very involved in his life (he even lived next to his grandparents). Their contrasting lives eventually weaved together and ended the story on a very heart-wrenching, very high note.

Rowell is an amazing writer. She ended off paragraphs with quotes and lines that had me clutching my chest and aww-ing more than once. There were parts that made me laugh and parts that made me cry. It was a whole range of emotions for me while reading. The book was written in both Eleanor and Park's perspectives, where Rowell would switch between the two. Thankfully it was written in third person narrative and not first, otherwise it would have been pretty confusing. The switching perspectives worked because it gives readers an inside look at both of their lives away from each other. Their familial situations were so different, and I felt horrible for Eleanor especially. Rowell didn't hold back on tackling the serious issues when it came to Eleanor's home life. It was utterly heartbreaking to read, but it made the story as a whole more real. It wasn't just a romance perfectly packaged and tied up in a pretty bow.

Ah, the pre-90's references. Loved them. I was born at the tail-end of the 80's, so a lot of the pop culture references were still pretty fresh; that, and my parents totally brought me up on all of it so I wasn't lost along the way. The references that Rowell used were the ones that stood out in the 80s; the timeless ones that won't be forgotten even 20 years later. I also think it's safe to say that we live in a time where the younger generation can actually appreciate a more older sound in music. I was at a bookstore one day and an older gentleman was talking to the cashier about how he and his 20-something year old son bonded over Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. I'm the same with my parents and know a lot of people who are also, so for me, this book wasn't dated at all. In fact, it seems like the perfect time to release this book.

Also, how perfect is this cover? It's the perfect representation for this story; simple but attractive, quirky, innocent, and depicts the connection that Eleanor and Park have with each other, away from the prying eyes of those around them. The incorporation of music in the cover also adds to the overall effect, as music plays quite a big part in the two character's relationship. This US edition will be released by St. Martin's Press on February 26, 2013. I'm happy to admit that this has been one of my favourite YA reads for 2012.

I also have to point out that Rowell has a book coming out in late 2013 called "Fangirl". About a girl who would rather live in other people' stories instead of her own. Are you kidding me? Sign me up.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with the ARC.

My rating:

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Title: Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem
Author: Melissa Lemon
Genre: Young Adult, Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Retelling
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Release date: December 11, 2012
ISBN-10: 1462111459
ISBN-13: 9781462111459
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley

Stuck in her family's apple orchards, Kat's got plenty of work to do and only pesky Jeremy to help. But when Jeremy convinces her to run away, Kat will discover that nothing---and no one---in her life is quite what it seems. Wonderfully reimagined, this is the magical tale of Snow White as you've never read it before!



My Review:
This enchanting re-telling of the timeless classic follows the journey of Kat, Princess of Mayhem, as she is forced out of her own kingdom at a young age. She grows up in an isolated apple orchard with her kind-hearted uncle, forced to stay within for her own safety. As years pass, her destiny catches up with her and things change in ways she never expected. Everything that's ever been familiar to her takes drastic turns and new life-changing encounters bring her closer to the past that was wrongfully and unknowingly taken away from her.

I am such a sucker for fairy tales. I especially love re-tellings of fairy tales that take on their own unique twist, but still retains that familiarity that made it a classic in the first place. This book has it all: the girl with skin as white as snow, the evil queen, the seven dwarves, and the magic mirror. Then there are the original additions, the lovely old-fashioned narrative, and captivating turns in the storyline. There aren't enough adjectives in the world to describe how much I enjoyed this book.

There are similar aspects between the original and Lemon's re-imagining, but she takes it to a whole other level with twists and revelations. One of the changes that I loved the most was that the evil stepmother, hell-bent on killing Snow White, was actually Kat's biological mother in this one. It makes it even more twisted and extreme; a mother wanting her own daughter dead? That has got to be one for the Freudian psychoanalytic theory books. She was actually born into royalty as opposed to being married into it, so she's rightfully allowed to have that kind of power. It's frightening. The dangers were clear and the Queen utilized her mirror to the best of her advantage, which made her the worst kind of villain, always lurking and waiting to exalt her power on those who defied her. Another thing was the choice for the narrator; he couldn't have been more perfect in context. It's narrated in omniscient third person, but in the best way possible: Jasper, the sole narrator, is the Queen's all-seeing mirror; a secondary character. How genius is that? The connections he had to Kat and the Queen made him a sympathetic and compelling character, as he was completely stuck, knowing what hardships lie ahead but being forced to watch from afar. The dwarves were also given a new spin, far from the Doc, Happy, Bashful, Grumpy et al. that we're used to in this day and age. There was much more dimension and realism to every single one of them. The characters that... weren't so likeable, they were still interesting. All in all, this book is filled with captivating characters and they're all intertwined in ways that I never saw coming.

The romance in the book was quite minimal, but it was there and drove much of the story along, especially in Jeremy's case. The other relationships were done very nicely as well, Kat and one of the dwarves named Pokole, in particular. The twists in the story lay more within the relationships than plot, and I found myself gaping at some of the reveals throughout the book.

Sight was an interesting concept in the book. The mirror saw everything while Kat only saw what was within the orchard. Her uncle lost his sight while the Queen never saw how her actions were affecting her reign and the townspeople. Also, the fantasy twist involving the snow fits so well into the story, and it's a creative twist at that.

Personally, neither the original European tale nor the Disney version are my favourites of all the fairy tales. Doesn't even crack the top 5. But this book is probably one of the best retelling's I've read in a long time, and while this is more of a re-imagining, it still made me re-evaluate and love the original tale a little bit more. Lemon gives readers a very original take on one of the most well-known classics. You'll feel the familiarity while being taken on a whole new enchanting ride with this version. It's one to watch for next month; I'd definitely recommend it to any Snow White fan! This is especially the perfect book for the winter season.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Cedar Fort for providing me with the ARC.

My rating:

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Title: The Hallowed Ones
Author: Laura Bickle
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Horror, Dystopian
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release date: September 25, 2012
ISBN-10: 0547859260
ISBN-13: 9780547859262
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers are free to experience non-Amish culture before officially joining the church. But before Rumspringa arrives, Katie’s safe world starts to crumble. It begins with a fiery helicopter crash in the cornfields, followed by rumors of massive unrest and the disappearance of huge numbers of people all over the world. Something is out there…and it is making a killing.

Unsure why they haven’t yet been attacked, the Amish Elders make a decree: no one goes outside their community, and no one is allowed in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man lying just outside the boundary of their land, she can’t leave him to die. She refuses to submit to the Elders’ rule and secretly brings the stranger into her community—but what else is she bringing in with him?



My Review:
Katie has been waiting for her Rumspringa for a long time. She's a good Amish girl who values her beliefs but has a bit of a rebellious streak and still wants to experience life on her own, to know what it feels to be truly independent. The world beyond their own Amish community is referred to as the "Outside", and Katie is ready to go. But something happens that forces a lockdown; outsiders cannot come in and no one from their community can leave. People are dying and there's something evil out there.

Katie, Katie, Katie. I love her. She was smart, rational, brave, and had this quality about her that made you believe she'd do well given the chance of freedom. There are some romantic, relationship-y bits in the book, but nothing too major that it verges on being the central focus. It's just the right amount for this type of book. I love Alex, though, definitely more than Elijah, Katie's best friend and most-likely husband-to-be in her eyes. The relationships between Katie and the other characters were nicely done as well. Bickle gives the readers a nice glimpse into the Amish culture, giving it a nice touch of insight, authenticity, and straying away from being even an ounce preachy or over-the-top. She provided the perfect mix of culture and paranormal to make one scary-ass perfect story. Who knew it would work?

The vampires are not the usual romanticized heartthrobs that have seemed to take over YA literature as of late. Bickle brings it back to the terrifying monsters that Stephen King would be proud of. They're super creepy and just vile, I couldn't put the book down. I found myself literally gasping and having my eyes almost bulge out of their sockets at some parts, it's just so grossly engaging.

I suggested this book in a meme just this past Friday. I read it just when I started blogging, but I never wrote up a review for it. I thought this would be an appropriate time as it's around Halloween. I read the premise and had some serious doubts, but I like being proved wrong when it comes to books, because you never know, right? There are some books with amazing plots but the writing itself is just terrible. So why can't the opposite happen? That's why I decided to read this. No regrets. It was amazing, guys. While the whole premise of Amish + vampires sounds crazy ridiculous, it was well-written and utterly engaging. The build-up was fantastically done and paid off in the end. I never found myself bored or reading for the sake of getting it over with. I'm not usually one for horror novels; I read them only once in a while. It's not my first genre of choice, but I can definitely stomach horror novels more than horror movies. As I've mentioned on this blog before, I don't have half the imagination that horror directors do, so the scary scenarios aren't as scary in my head as they could be on-screen, just because I don't want them to be. Even though Bickle's descriptions gave me chills, it was still enjoyable enough for me to keep reading. Call me a wuss, but I get scared easily. If I do decide to read horror, I wait until this time of year. If you're looking for a solid paranormal/dystopian read for this Halloween season, definitely consider picking this up.

My rating:

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Title: The Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: The Heroes of Olympus, Book 2
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Adventure, Mythology
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release date: October 4, 2011
ISBN-10: 1423140591
ISBN-13: 9781423140597
Format: Hardcopy
Source: Purchased

Percy is confused. When he awoke after his long sleep, he didn’t know much more than his name. His brain-fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight. Somehow Percy managed to make it to the camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he had to continually kill monsters that, annoyingly, would not stay dead. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him.

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn’t do a very good job of it. When the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her “gift” for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn’t say no. Now, because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother claims he is descended from ancient heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn’t see it. He doesn’t even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery—although not good enough to help the Fifth Cohort win at war games. His big and bulky physique makes him feel like a clumsy ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely—enough, even, to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the “other” camp for half-bloods and extending as far north as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment in the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all of whom are destined to play a part in the most important quest of all: the Prophecy of Seven.



My Review:
Percy Jackson has no idea where he is and remembers nothing of his past, except for one name: Annabeth. He then arrives at a mysterious camp and meets new friends in Frank and Hazel, the unlikely heroes who will join Percy on new adventures that will hopefully lead him to bringing his memory back. The world is in danger, and it's up to them to join together and defeat a new enemy from rising.The Son of Neptune is the second book in Riordan's The Heroes of Olympus series. We're finally introduced to the inner workings of the other camp, Camp Jupiter, which is the Roman counterpart of the Greek Camp Half-Blood. Being a huge fan of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, I missed Percy during The Lost Hero. So I was instantly overjoyed to know that he was back in this installment. We're introduced to two new main characters named Hazel and Frank, who accompany Percy on new adventures and have a few secrets of their own. I really liked Hazel and Frank as characters; definitely more than the first bunch in the Lost Hero (save for Leo; he is my spirit animal). I just liked this book more in general. I'm pretty sure that had to do with my love for Percy, though. I just really love Percy Jackson. If I could, I would shrink him down to size and put him in my pocket and carry him around with me everywhere.

Now, I'm not the biggest Percabeth fan, but Percy only remembering Annabeth's name was really sweet and I wanted so badly for them to be reunited. That's the thing about Riordan's series: the romance isn't an integral part of the books, but when he does focus on relationships, they're subtle but effective enough. The set-up for new relationships was really adorable and didn't take away from the main point of the book.The friendships are what I love most, apart from the mythological connections, in the books. I also love discovering which gods the kids are related to. It's like a big guessing game with all this build-up then all of a sudden you find out the truth, and you think to yourself, "that makes so much sense, why didn't I think of that before?" Bringing in the Greek-Roman relationship and differences between the two Classical periods was genius; that subject alone is enough for me to enjoy a book regardless. Mythology is my weakness.

Riordan has done it again. The pacing was nicely done and the characters were developed well -- I really felt like we got a good grasp of who Hazel, Frank, and even characters like Reyna and Octavian were; though I'd love to know more about them all, that's the good thing about a series. There's always time to expand. He has so much diversity in his characters and it's very refreshing to see. I love that there were no boundaries in terms of racial background and that he gave each character POV's, which enabled them to explore their past and family lives. The little allusions to the past books were also very nicely done, as well as the plot twists. Seeing old and new characters together to take on new stories and journeys is always a fun thing to read about. One of my favourite things about Riordan's writing style is the way he writes action. It's very descriptive and engaging.

I highly recommend this book, as well as the first in the Heroes of Olympus series to those who loved the Percy Jackson books. I myself was hesitant to read it because of my love for the PJ books, but the stories continue on and our favourite characters are still very much present. Percy isn't as fleshed out in this book as he is in the last series, but that's understandable. His time was then, and this time around, there are new characters for us to get to know and keep the stories going. The ending to The Son of Neptune was a complete cliff-hanger, but I'm thankful in my case that I finished it while I had the next book available to me.

My rating:

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Title: Harmonic Feedback
Author: Tara Kelly
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Music
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release date: May 25, 2010
ISBN-10: 080509010X
ISBN-13: 9780805090109
Format: ePub
Source: Purchased

Sixteen-year-old, music- and sound design-obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a band after an impromptu, Portishead-comparison-worthy jam after school. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?



My Review:
Basic summary: Andrea -- Drea for short -- is a sixteen-year-old girl who has just moved into town with her mother into her hard-to-please grandmother's house. A new town means new people and a new school. She tries to keep it to herself, but Drea also has Asperger's and ADHD. This showcases how different she is, especially in situations with her peers; people she's never been comfortable with. She's struggled with being labeled due to her conditions, and to top it all off, her mother tries to make her life easier by telling everyone. She means well, but Drea is tired of being treated differently. Then, she meets Naomi and Justin; a rebellious purple-haired girl from across the street, and a sweet guy who takes an instant liking to Drea. Turns out they're into music, too. Good thing, because Drea is a complete music junkie -- she loves sound design, producing tracks, and playing the guitar. Music is the one thing that makes her feel free. It's through her newfound friends, Naomi and Justin, and a couple more along the way, that she discovers how being "different" can make her special and that even the people she sees as "normal" aren't as they seem.

Usually I'm hesitant to read books that deal with Asperger's or any mental illness, but seeing that this is the second book that I've reviewed within the last few weeks with the subject (albiet very different situations entirely), I'd say I'm beginning to warm up to them. It's just such a sensitive topic that I get really apprehensive to start reading. But Tara Kelly did an amazing job with Drea's voice, which was really honest and blunt. Drea's syndromes are handled with care and understanding; they shape her character and the story. In the end, though, this was a story about friendship and all the characters overcoming their own internal struggles.

Plus, I have to say... Justin? *swoon* I want one. I really loved his character and his relationship with Drea. They were so sweet! His interactions with the others and understanding of Naomi just added to his overall charm. I love a good "good guy with a past" storyline.

The music aspect wasn't as big a factor in the book as I thought it would be; I thought their band would be focused on more, but wow, when Kelly did get into the topic of music, she really got into it. You can tell that she knows her stuff and that she herself is a musician. I loved every bit of it! Sound design, especially, is something that isn't common in music fiction, so I thought that having a main character who wasn't just all about "yeah, let's start a band and get popular" was really, really awesome. These kids were passionate about it, and it was shown through just the right amount in the narrative. When Kelly described the music and their band's lyrics, it's like you can almost hear it, or have this strong urge to want to hear it.

Being a huge music junkie myself, I was really intrigued by this book. It paid off, because I couldn't put it down. I'd say this is one of my favourite reads this year. I'm also a very visual person, so if a cover is nice, I'll at least pick it up and read the synopsis. This cover is absolutely gorgeous and I was happy to know after reading it, that the image plays a part in the book. The story and the voices were captivating, the relationships were nicely paced and well-developed, the music terms were refreshing to my eyes... and yes, I cried. It takes a lot for a book to make me cry unless you're Nicholas Sparks, so 5 for you, Harmonic Feedback.

My rating:

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