Between Shades of Gray

"Wow" is all I have to say (well, almost.)

I started it last night and COULD NOT put it down -ended up finishing it.  

Lena is a Lithuanian teenager in 1941 when the Soviet Secret Police come at night 

to take her family away.  

"They took me in my nightgown.  Looking back the signs were there- family photos burned in the fireplace, Mother sewing her best silver and jewelry into the lining of her coat late at night,  and Papa not returning from work."  

Forced onto filthy cattle cars with thousands of other people Lena and her mother and brother try to stay alive and together as they are taken to work camps during Stalin's "cleansing" of the Baltic region. 

 Interspersed in the story are flashbacks to Lena's life before the upheaval and the contrast between the normalcy of her life before and her current life are so dramatic.   A gifted artist, Lena draws secret pictures to record the atrocities that she witnesses, knowing people won't believe that they could even happen.  She secrets the drawings in her suitcase lining and passes some from person to person, hoping her father will find them and know that she is alive. 

 I honestly found myself ignorant of most of the atrocities that are looked at in this book.  I know we talked briefly of this time in history when I was in school but never discussed the genocide that occurred.   

I truly feel that this book should be required reading in high school.   Ruta Sepetys researched this book by traveling to visit family that had been through the upheavals in Lithuania and recording their stories.  Many of the stories in the book are true accounts. 

This novel looks at cruelty and small acts of kindness in wartime in a way that will touch your heart.

So powerful.

Compulsion

"Today has to be perfect.
Magic.
I look at the clock.
10:14 AM.
Ten fourteen. One plus one is two plus four is six plus ten is sixteen minus one is fifteen minus two is thirteen. OK.
I turn from the clock and walk into the hallway. "Ready."
 -from Compulsion by Heidi Ayarbe

Mental illness is not fun.
Jake is a handsome high school soccer star, a popular teenager
but he's hiding a secret that's eating him up inside-
He suffers from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.)
Having to "do-over" his day if the numbers don't add up
Time being sucked away from his life.
His mother's mental illness towers over him because his father won't talk about it
she hides away in her room and the family is left to pick up the pieces.
I wonder how much of his illness is real and how much is learned behavior from his mother?
Jake's younger sister and best friend carry him through the rough patches
but the toll is hard.
I thought that this was an interesting look into the mind of a person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and a good book in general. 
 
On a personal note-  I read this because I have a son with mild OCD (not in anyway as extreme or debilitating as in the novel.)  It is a disruptive, frustrating condition for both family and the person suffering.   Luckily my son is now usually able to clue in when the OCD is taking over and stop the cycle.

For more information and help look at these sites:
OCD Help Guide
OCD Foundation
Books on OCD for Parents and Kids

On Magic Glass

I really like Maria V. Snyder's imagination...

She can create a world and make you believe you are there, that you are friends with the characters and know the families and countryside...

The Glass Series continues where the Poison series leaves off 

with some of the same characters

Opal Cowan, the sister of the glass blower in the Poison series, is the main character in this series. 
She is also a glass-blower who has magical abilities. 

In the first book she is called to aid the Stormdancers, a magical people who calm storms, when their glass orbs are sabotaged. 

 

 Storm Glass

In the second, she has become a pawn of the governments, with her special talents being held hostage.  She has to choose her path and find truth.

 Sea Glass

In the last book, Spy Glass, Opal is without her magic, and has to reinvent herself and her place in society.  

 Spy Glass

Very compelling characters. 

Fun reads!

Some sexy stuff and violence so probably for 9th grade up.

Wicked Lovely?

Wicked Lovely by  Melissa Marr

Aislinn has seen fairies, like her grandmother before her, her entire life.  

There are rules about this (if you want to avoid the fairies' wrath)

1. Don't stare or let them see you looking
2. Don't talk to them
3. Don't attract their attention

This is blown as Keenan, the fairy Summer king, basically starts stalking Ash to see if she might be his queen...
I'm not sure how I feel about this book.  It was silly in parts, but kept my attention.  I might end up reading the next one...

More Werewolf Fun

Werewolf books are definitely hot now.   

 Andrea Cremer has hit the highpoint in the genre.  

Nightshade is probably one of the best werewolf books I've read. 

Calla is a tough, beautiful almost 18 year old.  She attends high school with her friends at an elite prep-school which is not what it seems.  An alpha female, she is destined to marry Ren, the alpha of a rival pack on her birthday.  But on a chance meeting with a hiker her world is changed forever.  Questions arise as to the purpose of her people, the truth behind everything she's been taught is challenged.  

This book has much more "meat" to it than your usual mushy werewolf book.  

I can't wait for the next installment Wolfsbane, due out July 26th, 2011.  

A third, Bloodrose, will be released Fall 2012.

*Pretty graphic as far as violence and steamy for younger teens, I'd say this is for 9th grade and up.

On Princess Power

From the author of Academy 7, Anne Osterlund,  comes Aurelia.
The first in a new series about a spunky princess from the make-believe kingdom of Tyralt, 
the story opens with a ball, a coming-out party for her younger (beautifully perfect) sister.
Aurelia's life is threatened without her knowing it- her food taster has died...
An old school friend, Robert becomes involved as a secret bodyguard but guarding the princess proves to be no easy matter.  Tyralt's beloved princess won't stay put long and is always sneaking out of the castle in disguises.
 Smart, sexy, and rebellious Aurelia doesn't want to sell her body and soul, but reign as a true queen.
 Evil stepmother, distant father, gorgeous racehorses, and gorgeous men, spunky leading lady- what else could we ask for in a good princess book?



*This book is a little steamy, but nothing too hot for younger teens. 

The book leaves us hanging, and I can't wait to find out what happens next to the princess and her "bodyguard"in Exile due out April 28, 2011. 

Freaky Circus

I'd seen the movie, and therefore didn't really want to read this book.

But, my neighbor's Japanese exchange student told me that it was her FAVORITE book of all time. "Oh, so much better than Twilight."  
How could I not want to read and see what the fuss was about?

It was definately not Twilight. 
No romance, no handsome vampires (or werewolves.)  Just some selfish jerky teenage boys who want magic spiders, to be made vampires...
And a bunch of freaky freaks. 

Darren Shan tells his tale of how he came to be a vampire's assistant.  Two boys find tickets to a magical circus/freak show and sneak out.  Darren's horror-obsessed friend realizes that one of the performers is really an ancient vampire.  What transpires is a fast paced twist-of-fate.

Not for the faint-hearted, but probably okay for kids ages 11+ who like the scary stuff but have graduated beyond Goosebumps books.   I think the movie was a compilation of the first two books.  Looking back I think they really did a good job following to the book. 

It was a fast, fun read.   I have to admit even though it's not my thing I really did enjoy Darren Shan's writing style.  Think this is the answer to those who want the scary vampire books without all the mushy stuff.

Academy 7

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

I have to start by saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover."
In this case the cover is very Harlequin romancey, and the book is NOT.
Much more of a sci-fi thriller with some romance thrown in (although nothing major and suitable for even younger teens-not too mushy for the guys.)
Aerin is a young girl who has been through more tortures in her young life to mention.  Saved from her decrepit space-ship at the last possible moment, she finds a world she didn't even know existed.  Equality?  Fairness?  Freedom?
Enrolled in the prestigious Academy 7, a starting point for future leaders, she soon finds out there is so much she doesn't know.  She excels in her studies, being the top of the class in all but debate where Dane, the son of a powerful Alliance leader, talks circles around her.   After time they form a relationship, Aerin's first friendship.  Full of space ships, beautiful imagery, and high tech escapades. 
I am anxious for the next book so I can find out what happens next to these interesting characters. 

Hush up...

Okay, so I read Hush, Hush to see what everyone was talking about.  

(Plus Amazon kept telling me how much I'd love it, and I'll admit, I think it has a pretty cool cover.) 

We have Nora Grey, a teenage school girl who's father has been murdered.  She is not into dating yet, until the mysterious new boy Patch enters the scene.  He's dark and mysterious and quite annoying.  Nora is torn with her new feelings and the strange things that start to happen once Patch arrives.

Along your usual "teenager falls for other-worldly creature" novel lines we have a team of good and bad guys.  Here it's fallen angels, and angels.  Secrets abound.  A little dark and depressing, your typical adolescent angst.

I liked it enough to read the next one, Crescendo, though (even if the cover wasn't as cool.)

Crescendo starts where Hush, Hush leaves off.  Nora is in a new relationship with Patch, but he is being a bit of jerk and she can't figure out why.  Her obsession over her her father's death starts to take hold and she finds out many secrets that take her into some precarious situations.  I liked that in this book she shows a lot more spunk. 

Coming in 2011!!

I wanted to make a list of books I'm waiting on in 2011...

1. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (coming July 2011)
2. Riptide (Dark Life #2) by Kat Falls
3. Passion (Book 3 in Fallen Series) by Lauren Kate (July 2011)
4. Son of Neptune (Book 2 in The Heroes of Olympus series) by Rick Riordan (fall 2011)
5. Kane Chronicles Book 2 by Rick Riordan (May 2011)
6. City of Fallen Angels (Book 4 in Mortal Instruments series) by Cassandra Clare (April 2011)
7. Clockwork Prince (Book 2 in Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare (August 2011)
8. Eona (Eon #2) by Alison Goodman
9. Ascend by Amanda Hocking (January 15th, 2011)

 Okay, stopping there or I could go on awhile...

and yes, most (okay all) of these are classified as YA or Children's Sci Fi or Fiction.  Maybe I'll come up with an adult list soon, but maybe not! :)

Fallen (Angels)

In my quest for the perfect YA books I've discovered another series by Lauren Kate. 
The first book, Fallen, introduces our heroine, Lucinda Price.  Luce is a troubled girl who sees dark shadows and shapes who sometimes do horrible things.  This explains why she's now enrolled, by court order, at Swords & Cross, a reform school.  As awful as it is, Luce finally finds truths that have haunted her and friends that can accept her as she is.   And even more she is torn between a steamy bad boy and an angelic-hottie who keeps her at a distance.   

Angels and Demons teenie-bopper style.
The battle between good and evil begins.

*So far the books are not too awful for older teen girls.  Drinking at parties, kisses on cheeks, and some violent scenes.  So far the heroine has made fairly good choices (maybe a couple that are questionable but she learns from them.)   I am enjoying Kate's writing style- fun and fast reads.  Cool cover art also!

Like Clockwork

I love this cover!

Tessa is a sixteen year old orphan who is going to London to search for her missing older brother. On her arrival she is promptly kidnapped by a nefarious secret club called "The Pandemonium Club" because of some secret powers even she didn't know she possessed. Tessa soon finds there are demons, vampires, warlocks and more (oh my!)

Of course she is rescued by "The Institute" a group of Shadowhunters, sworn to kill demons. A love triangle (sort of) ensues where she is torn for feelings between two steamy teens, Will and James.


I'd seen so much hype on this book that I felt like I had to read it.
I must admit I did enjoy it...  But this is a very scary book (at least to me) with people being murdered for body parts, monsters everywhere, and horrible clockwork robot people trying to kill everyone while their masters take over the world. In other words- I would NOT recommend this for young teens or tweens. Probably at least 9th grade and up would be okay. (I'm not letting my 13 yr old read it yet...)

Now, for myself I can't wait for the next one to come out!  :)


*I read all of Cassandra Clare's other books after reading this one (sort of out of order I found out because this is the prequel series to the Mortal Instrument series) and really enjoyed this book the most.   I am a sucker for a good series.  I think you get hooked on learning more about characters you really like, don't  you?

Tide Knot

I love the sea. I grew up next to it and when I moved to this land-locked place when I got married I thought I would die from missing the ocean so much. (Still think so sometimes.)
The Tide Knot, the second book in the Ingo series is wonderful.
Full of the draw of the sea and land. The pull between them like the pull of the tides on young Sapphire, a girl with half Mer (mermaid) blood.
Sapphire and Conor have moved to a new town with their mom and her boyfriend. Still searching for their father, they find that Ingo needs them for a special purpose.  They also find truth.  Read it to find out more...

Maybe I'm Mer, Ingo is calling me.