Red Skies Falling (Skybound #2) by Alex London - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Red Skies Falling (Skybound #2)
Author: Alex London
Release Date: September 3, 2019

Black Wings Beating REVIEW

Synopsis: In this thrilling sequel to Black Wings Beating, twins Kylee and Brysen are separated by the expanse of Uztar, but are preparing for the same war – or so they think.

Kylee is ensconsed in the Sky Castle, training with Mem Uku to master the Hollow Tongue and the Ghost Eagle. But political intrigue abounds and court drama seems to seep through the castle's stones like blood from a broken feather. Meanwhile, Brysen is still in the Six Villages, preparing for an attack by the Kartami. The Villages have become Uztar's first line of defense, and refugees are flooding in from the plains. But their arrival lays bare the villagers darkest instincts. As Brysen navigates the growing turmoil, he must also grapple with a newfound gift, a burgeoning crush on a mysterious boy, and a shocking betrayal.

The two will meet again on the battlefield, fighting the same war from different sides―or so they think. The Ghost Eagle has its own plans.

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Review: I absolutely LOVED Black Wings Beating! This sequel takes those characters into darker places. War is even closer to both Kylee and Brysen. I feel like this book really takes the complexity of war times and expands on them. Moral grayness is abound. Conflicting priorities and viewpoints drive the action in this book. The amazing world Alex London created is expanded on even more. Everything in this culture is related to birds and I love it. The tiny avian allusions made me smile every single time.

This book took a lot longer for me to read. 2019 was a reading slump for me when it comes to prose (non-graphic) books. I think this book has middle-of-a-trilogy difficulties. Everything has been established and we just get to learn more about the details of things. Kylee and Brysen's stories feel more separate in this book, but they do have connections. It felt like more big action things happened, but there still were some huge thrilling moments. I think my views of this are due mostly to me reading it slowly over a long period of time.

I give this book a 5/5. If you liked Black Wings Beating then you MUST read this book! And if you haven't read Black Wings Beating, you are completely missing out. Just the fact that a YA Fantasy trilogy with queer leads like this exists is so exciting for me!


--PAUL

Black Wings Beating by Alex London - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Black Wings Beating
Author: Alex London
Recent Release Date: September 25, 2018

Synopsis: The people of Uztar have long looked to the sky with hope and wonder. Nothing in their world is more revered than the birds of prey and no one more honored than the falconers who call them to their fists.

Brysen strives to be a great falconer--while his twin sister, Kylee, rejects her ancient gifts for the sport and wishes to be free of falconry. She's nearly made it out, too, but a war is rolling toward their home in the Six Villages, and no bird or falconer will be safe.

Together the twins must journey into the treacherous mountains to trap the Ghost Eagle, the greatest of the Uztari birds and a solitary killer. Brysen goes for the boy he loves and the glory he's long craved, and Kylee to atone for her past and to protect her brother's future. But both are hunted by those who seek one thing: power.

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Review: I have been waiting for this book. YA Fantasy is my favorite genre and to finally have a book like this with a lead queer boy means so much. I wish my teenage self had had this book. Not only is this a book with boys kissing, there's also a vast magical world based on falconry. So much thought went into the culture London created. The subtle avian references really flesh out the world.

The first chapter of this book is so intense. It paints such a wonderful picture of the world and the characters within it. The family dynamics are such a large part of this book and the first chapter paves such an excellent path for them to be thoroughly delved into. The first chapter also sets in play the chapters from adults' perspectives sprinkled throughout the book. Most of the book is from either Kylee or Brysen's persepctive. 

Going into this book, I didn't even read the synopsis. I just knew it was written by Alex London, there was falconry, and there were gay characters. I expected a gay male lead, but Brysen shares the role with his sister, Kylee. Kylee was absolutely my favorite character. Their relationship as siblings goes through so much in this book.

Love is at the center of this book. Not only romantic love, but familial and platonic. Each character is motivated by love in some way. The motivations all make sense and each character has a detailed past. 

The worldbuilding is phenomenal in this book. The bird imagery is everywhere. It's ever present. The culture is so well thought out. The geography of the area is described in such detail. I just got back from a tans Atlantic vacation and the imagery definitely reminded me of the beautiful Scandinavian landscapes.

Although this book is definitely only the first in a series, it is a complete story. I was very satisfied with the ending.

I give Black Wings Beating a 5/5. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. It's a YA Fantasy with a queer boy protagonist!!! I can only hope that one day I have a book out in the world that can be recommended alongside this one.   


--PAUL

Shutter by Courtney Alameda - Ashley's Review

*I received a copy of this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Shutter
Author: Courtney Alameda
Publication Date: February 3rd, 2015

Synopsis: Horror has a new name: introducing Courtney Alameda.

Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat—a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She's aided by her crew: Oliver, a techno-whiz and the boy who developed her camera's technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.

When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that if she doesn't exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she's faced before . . . or die trying.

Lock, stock, and lens, she’s in for one hell of a week.

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Review: I am always on the hunt for a good horror book. Paranormal books are usually either hit or miss for me, but if it's a horror book and not a romance, I'll definitely give it a try. Courtney Alameda's Shutter is actually some of both, although definitely more horror than romance, and I loved pretty much every minute of it! 

One of my favorite things in any sort of book is when there's a little bit of history or mythology tucked in around the main story. In this case, we have the Van Helsing lineage. The Helsings have built an empire on hunting ghosts, ghouls, and other sorts of undead creatures, and are known far and wide. I loved that little bit of a connection to the real world, because it made everything that happens in Shutter seem like something that could possibly actually happen. I mean, I know there aren't ghosts and undead monsters roaming around (at least I hope not...), but Alameda did such a good job constructing a world where all of that felt so real that it seemed like they've always been real in our world too. 

And speaking of those monsters, Alameda's descriptions of them are just absolutely terrifying. I made the mistake of reading this book at night, and spent the next week wishing I had read it in the middle of the day. I could never go into something like Micheline and her crew, hunting the monsters they do. Corporeal or spiritual, those are things I would never want to run across. The deaths and corpses are all described in gruesome detail, and even though it was kind of gross, I think it added so much to my understanding of the world Micheline lives in and the monsters she deals with. 

Micheline is a really fantastic heroine. She is strong-willed and independant, a natural leader, but she still relies heavily on her friends. She makes some poor choices, but Jude, Ryder, and Oliver all have her back and help to protect her. Even dealing with the soulchain, they never really give up on finding a way out of it or on each other. Jude was probably my favorite - he's hilarious and you could pretty much always count on him to break up a serious moment with some ridiculous or sarcastic comment. But I also really loved Ryder and his relationship with Micheline. There's definitely a romance brewing there, but it's not overwhelming and doesn't take over the main story. It's just nice to see things play out the way they do. 

There's also quite a bit of science in this book - ghosts and the tech Micheline uses are explained using energies and the like, and how the quartz-lens even works, and so many other things that add a whole extra dimension to the whole paranormal aspect. Overall, this was just a really fantastic, well-written book that has likeable characters, terrifying monsters, and some of the best world-building I've ever seen in a horror book. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of the Anna Dressed in Blood series. 5/5!

--Ashley

Mortal Danger (Immortal Game #1) by Ann Aguirre - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Mortal Danger (Immortal Game #1)
Author: Ann Aguirre
Publication Date: August 5, 2014

Synopsis: Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

Why?: I really enjoyed Ann's Razorland series (at least what I've read so far), so I was really excited when I heard about this book. It sounds like something totally different from Enclave, and I think that it has a lot of potential to be really great. Also, a Faustian deal, revenge, secrets, and fiends? Count me in!

Expectations: I expect this book to be pretty intense. Edie is on a mission for revenge, and that never usually ends well. Or nicely. I have pretty high expectations overall for this book, especially since I've read and enjoyed some of Ann's other YA books. I'm hoping for a fast-paced thriller with some magic and a little romance maybe!

Judging a book by its cover: I absolutely love this cover. It's simple, yet powerful. The infinity symbol could mean so many things, and I like how this book about revenge has a cover that looks like it's splattered with blood. I mean, not that blood is ever a good way to take revenge... but it makes for a really cool looking cover. I would totally pick this book up off of a shelf based on just the cover. I can't wait to have a copy for my shelves!


--Ashley

Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Straus, & Giroux BYR on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Second Star
Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Publication Date: May 13, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy's journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. 

Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove's charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. 

A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

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Review: So... this book. I'm really torn about it. There were times I loved it and times I hated it. But for all of the problems that I saw with it, I found things that I really liked. I haven't really felt this undecided about a book in a while. 

I think one of my major problems with this book was with Wendy. I liked that she was searching for her brothers, John and Michael, but I didn't like that it didn't really seem like she cared if they were alive or dead... she just needed closure. She mourned for them, but she even says that she was never really all that close to them because they were in their own world. I feel like if I lost my sibling, I would be a total wreck. She's also ridiculously indecisive. She spends the first of the book "in love" with Pete, and then she decides that she's "in love" with Jas for the rest of the book. I mean, come on.

And then, she decides that taking a drug that she KNOWS is crazy addictive and has destroyed lives is a good idea? Especially when nobody even knows what's in it? Ugh. I just wanted to slap her every time she did something stupid. I really wish I had connected more with her or actually felt sympathy for her, but I just couldn't. She's pretty much the worst. 

I was also a little concerned that I thought Jas was the better of the two boys. Like in what universe is a drug dealer better for a girl than the guy who is trying to help kids get off of drugs? I know there's always that "bad boy" appeal, but Jas isn't really a bad boy... he just does bad things to make money and is actually a very sweet guy. The characters are just so messed up and I am so conflicted about all of them.

The plot, however, was written very well and moved along at a pretty decent pace. I never felt like the story was lacking or that there was a lull in the plot. Everything happens for a reason, and by the end I honestly had no idea what to believe. I think that was done very well, and I would be interested to see if there's a sequel that would explain more about what Wendy is going through. I was definitely not expecting the explanation or the ending, so props on that!

I think, overall, this was an interesting reimagining of the Peter Pan story. It's unlike any Peter Pan story I've ever read, and it's definitely on that I'll remember for a while. It wasn't my favorite, and I really hated most of the characters most of the time, but it's still a pretty decent story with interesting twists and turns. If you enjoy Peter Pan stories, and especially want a little romance and mystery, I would totally recommend this book. I'd only give it a 3/5, but I think there's an audience for it. It just wasn't really me. 


--Ashley

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Truth About Alice
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Publication Date: June 3, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. 

Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

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Review: I think this book is something that every kid in high school should be made to read. It doesn't have a fast moving plot or an epic world. Instead, it's very real. It shows what happens when rumors are started and how people can be hurt by the smallest amount of gossip. And how important the truth can be.

I didn't expect to actually enjoy this book as much as I did. It's told from four different perspectives, and it's really interesting to see how different people see the situation. Elaine and Josh don't really care about Alice to begin with; they tolerate her because she used to be moderately popular, but they're not all that interested in actually learning the truth. Kelsie is too worried about her reputation to sit down and actually talk to Alice. And then there's Kurt, the shy genius who lived next door to the football star Brandon. 

All of these people felt like people I've known or do know. Each character has his or her own distinct voice, but they all need to keep the truth about Alice a secret in order to be the top of the pecking order. It's crazy, but I can totally see something like this happening to a girl in real life. In fact, I'm sure it has happened. High school kids are often mean and don't think about the consequences of their actions and their words, and this book really shows that. 

I also found myself actually liking most of the characters in this book. I mean, I would never want to be friends with someone who would turn on me in an instant, but they all have their problems and their reasons. Kurt was definitely my favorite, although I wish he would have shared his truths sooner. Alice reacted to things pretty much exactly how I expected her to, but I'm glad she ended up with a decently happy ending. 

Overall, I would totally recommend this to anyone who is looking for a real contemporary book with real characters and real consequences. This is not your feel-good contemporary romance (even though there's a little bit of that in here), but it's definitely one that will make you think. And want to give to your teenage kids/friends/cousins/etc. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, and I found that I just couldn't put it down as soon as I picked it up. A 4/5.


--Ashley

The Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1) by April Henry - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holt & Co (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1)
Author: April Henry
Publication Date: June 17, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.

This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations

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Review: I've never really read a book about a search and rescue group. Not that they don't interest me... I just think they're underrepresented in a lot of contemporary YA fiction. So I was pretty excited when I came across this book that dealt with a search and rescue team! Plus some mystery, secrets, and an investigation? Count me in!

The plot and the story itself definitely held my attention. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next, and I spent most of the book trying to figure out "whodunnit" on my own. There were times when I thought I had it figured out only to be proven wrong, and even a couple of times when I actually did have it figured out but somehow managed to convince myself otherwise. The mystery part is very well written, and it was really interesting to see snippets from the killer's point of view.

I didn't, however, really connect with any of the three main characters. Nick's chapters are very bland and he's always just trying to prove himself to his brother or his mom. I mean, I guess I can understand why, but you'd think after so many years he'd be over that. And I think there was a little bit of a crush on Alexis going on there, but that's not really developed at all either so I wasn't upset with how that worked out. Alexis has to deal with a mentally ill mother, but we're never really told HOW she deals with it, besides worrying all the time. So I missed a connection there as well. And the romance in her section feels so unnecessary. 

Ruby was the only character who I thought was actually really interesting. She's different, and she has certain obsessions, but she's very focused once she gets her mind set on something. I thought it was neat to follow along with her thought process and to find out what she remembered about...well, everything. Every time the detective blew her off, I felt her aggravation. I sympathized the most with her, and I almost wish there were more chapters from her perspective. 

I think this book is well written as far as the plot and the content goes (there was definitely a lot of research into how search and rescue teams do their job!), but it fell short for me when it came to the characters. I think maybe a younger crowd would enjoy this book more - it's not too gory or anything, and is pretty informative, but I'm not sure that the older YA readers would enjoy this as much. I'd recommend it if you like mysteries and are looking for something a little bit different though! 3/5.


--Ashley

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holy and Co. (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publication Date: July 15, 2014

Synopsis: In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

Why?: I've heard really excellent things about this book and it's a YA fantasy, so I definitely had to read it for myself! I'm looking forward to learning about this world and the characters in it, especially since some of them apparently have gifts. It also sounds like a pretty exciting plot, with the whole running away, taking a new identity, and being chased by an assassin and a prince.

Expectations: I have pretty high expectations for this book even though I've never read anything by Mary Pearson. So many people are talking about how good this book is that I really want it to live up to all the hype! I'm also expecting quite a bit of world building, since this is a fantasy book.

Judging a book by its cover: I think I like this cover? I like how it's dark and stormy, and I like the look of the title. I'm not sure how I feel about the girl though. I don't know that it would stand out on a shelf in a bookstore or a library, but I would probably pick it up if I stumbled across it. 


--Ashley

Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1) by April Henry - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holt & Co (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen #1)
Author: April Henry
Publication Date: June 17, 2014

Synopsis: In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.

This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations

Why?: Mystery, suspense, and a story told from multiple perspectives? Count me in! I've never read anything by April Henry, but the synopsis was enough to draw me in. 

Expectations: I'm honestly not sure what to expect. Definitely a murder mystery, but I'm not sure what else. I don't know how April writes or what will happen to the characters over the course of the book. I don't even know if I should expect this to be more of a horror book or not. I'm excited to be surprised!

Judging a book by its cover: I actually kind of like this cover. I love the ferns and how the girl's eye shadow matches them, and I like how you can't see most of her face. I also like how the font is white, since it stands out against the darker background. I think all of the green is enough to make this book stand out on a shelf, so I would probably pick it up if I saw it in a bookstore or library. 


--Ashley

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Truth About Alice
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Publication Date: June 3, 2014

Synopsis: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. 

Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

Why?: This is not normally a book I would pick up, but I've heard really excellent things about it so I couldn't pass on it. I think it will be interesting to see one girl's story from the perspective of four different people, and to learn the truth about Alice and find out the secrets surrounding her. 

Expectations: I'm expecting a really powerful book. I think it will deal heavily with rumors and their effect on people, as well as how teenagers in different cliques view those in other cliques. I'm also kind of expecting a pretty dark book, since there are secrets and death and pretty bad rumors being spread.

Judging a book by its cover: I actually really like this cover. I like that the girl is just a silhouette and that we don't really know anything about her. I like the graffiti in the background that looks like a bathroom stall. The colors all work really well, and I love how the title is written on the girl. I would likely pick this book up based solely on the cover if I saw it in a bookstore or a library.


--Ashley

Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Straus, & Giroux BYR on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Second Star
Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Publication Date: May 13, 2014

Synopsis: A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy's journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. 

Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove's charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. 

A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

Why?: I'm a sucker for retellings of classic books and stories. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson was stunning, and I've been looking for another Peter Pan retelling since I read it. This one seems like it will only be loosely based on the original, but I'm intrigued nonetheless. 

Expectations: I don't really expect there to be as much magic in this story as the original, or any of the Lost Boys or Pete staying young forever. I'm also a little concerned about the apparent lack of pirates (I do love me some pirates!), but I hope it will work out with the story being told here. I definitely expect this to be heavy on the romance.

Judging a book by its cover: I love the colors of this cover! I can't tell if it's sunrise or sunset, and I really don't think it even matters. The couple on the front is a little cliche of YA romance books, but I do like that you can only see their silhouettes. I would probably pick this book up if I saw it on a shelf somewhere. 


--Ashley

One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: One Man Guy
Author: Michael Barakiva
Publication Date: May 27, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Why bother, when their home cooking is far superior to anything "these Americans" could come up with? Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek’s parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshmen year of high school. He never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.

Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. When Ethan gets Alek to cut school and go to a Rufus Wainwright concert in New York City’s Central Park, Alek embarks on his first adventure outside the confines of his suburban New Jersey existence. He can’t believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he’s barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it’s time to think again.

Michael Barakiva's One Man Guy is a romantic, moving, laugh-out-loud-funny story about what happens when one person cracks open your world and helps you see everything—and, most of all, yourself--like you never have before.

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Review: This is a super cute summer romance that would be a good book to read while sitting out on the beach or in a hammock enjoying some gorgeous summer weather. It's a quick easy read, and it was fun to watch Alek rediscover himself. 

I think this book has really good intentions. I've never read another book about an Armenian main character, so I think that it was neat to be able to glimpse a part of the Armenian-American heritage. I also really enjoyed that, even though Alex hated parts of his Armenian upbringing, it was still so deeply ingrained within him that he could recall the stories and the manners without a second thought. Although he hates his parents for being so strict, he's really a good kid. 

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was how accepting everyone was. The D.O.s accept Ethan for who he is, and even the people you think might be the least likely people to accept Alek and Ethan are incredibly open and caring and loving. It's just really nice to see in a YA book, especially as it's becoming more common in every day life. Just because Alek starts to fall for a boy doesn't make him any different than any of his peers. 

There were some really good, strong things about this book, but as a whole it just wasn't anything spectacular. Even though it's a gay teen romance, it's still a teen romance, and I'm not sure that having "gay" stamped on it is enough to make it stand out from all of the other contemporary YA romances. It's cute, it's sweet, and it makes a lot of good points... but then again so do most other books in its genre. I would probably recommend it to anyone looking for a nice summer romance without much suspense, mystery, magic, or any of that jazz. I'd give One Man Guy a 3/5.


--Ashley

One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: One Man Guy
Author: Michael Barakiva
Publication Date: May 27, 2014

Synopsis: Alek Khederian should have guessed something was wrong when his parents took him to a restaurant. Everyone knows that Armenians never eat out. Why bother, when their home cooking is far superior to anything "these Americans" could come up with? Between bouts of interrogating the waitress and criticizing the menu, Alek’s parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades. Alek is sure this experience will be the perfect hellish end to his hellish freshmen year of high school. He never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.

Ethan is everything Alek wishes he were: confident, free-spirited, and irreverent. When Ethan gets Alek to cut school and go to a Rufus Wainwright concert in New York City’s Central Park, Alek embarks on his first adventure outside the confines of his suburban New Jersey existence. He can’t believe a guy this cool wants to be his friend. And before long, it seems like Ethan wants to be more than friends. Alek has never thought about having a boyfriend—he’s barely ever had a girlfriend—but maybe it’s time to think again.

Michael Barakiva's One Man Guy is a romantic, moving, laugh-out-loud-funny story about what happens when one person cracks open your world and helps you see everything—and, most of all, yourself--like you never have before.

Why?: This book sounds like a really cute summer romance, and it's been a while since I've read a good one. The synopsis also promises humor, which is always a plus! 

Expectations: Other than a light, humorous, contemporary romance, I'm not really sure what else to expect. I've never read anything from this author, so I can't say anything about what I hope the writing will be like or anything, and it's been so long since I've read a book like this that I don't know what to compare it to as far as what I think it will be like. 

Judging a book by its cover: I kind of like this cover. I like that the boys are paper dolls, and I like how bright the yellow is. I think the yellow would help it stand out on a shelf, so I'd probably at least notice it and maybe pick it up.


--Ashley