Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Don't Even Think About It
by Sarah Mlynowski
Pages: 336
Published: March 11th 2014 by Delacorte Press
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Description: Contemporary teen fiction with romance, secrets, scandals, and ESP from the author of Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have).

We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.

Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.

So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening.

MY REVIEW 

One fall morning a group of high school students are set to get their flu shots for the fall. However, there is a problem. The flu shots ended up giving them the ability of ESP. They can read each others minds. The story is centric around students of homeroom 10b. There are 23 students and 21 received the shot. This is a story of Tess who is in love with her best friend Teddy (no Espie), Olivia who is extremely shy, Pi who is the second smartest in the class, Mackenzie and Cooper who have been dating forever, and a few others. 

Now this book isn't going to be for everyone. If you look at the logic of the book, yes it doesn't make sense. How can someone write a novel when everyone can read each others minds. I though this book was a cute read. If you go into not expecting much from it, then you will enjoy it. If you're looking for a book that isn't going to be complicated, but enjoyable this will be it. 

The book is told from a point of view of an Epsie and we don't know who it is. At parts it can get a tad confusing, but getting past it, it works. Every character I enjoyed reading about. I did have a favorite and that was Olivia. 

Don't Even Think About It is a great guilty pleasure book. I was a little excited to see that this was book one because how it ended you wanted to know more of what was going to happen. 

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Bird Box 
By Josh Malerman
Pages: 262
Published: May 13th, 2014 by Ecco

Summary: Most people ignored the outrageous reports on the news. But they became too frequent, they became too real. And soon, they began happening down the street. Then the Internet died. The television and radio went silent. The phones stopped ringing. And we couldn't look outside anymore. Malorie raises the children the only way she can; indoors. The house is quiet. The doors are locked, the curtains are closed, mattresses are nailed over the windows. They are out there. She might let them in. The children sleep in the bedroom across the hall. Soon she will have to wake them. Soon she will have to blindfold them. Today they must leave the house. Today they will risk everything.

MY REVIEW 

Bird Box is a story about Malorie who witnesses the world go to pieces. It all starts with someone seeing something and then going completely mad. Not thinking much of it at first, she doesn't fall into the hype. She doesn't start to panic until the hysteria falls on US soil and she witnesses it with her sister Shannon. Responding to an ad in the paper, Malorie; who recently found out she was pregnant, adventures to a house where she will live for four years. The housemates: Tom, Don, Cheryl and Jules all accept Malorie into their home. While she lives there, they have curtains on windows and always wearing blind folds. After an event at the household, Malorie finally adventures out into the new world and finds a new safe place to raise her children. 

I had two main reasons for picking up this book. One it was compared to The Road which is one of my favorite books and also I was looking for a good quick horror book to read. I wanted something different. I got one of those reasons. I do see the comparisons to The Road, but it's not quite like Cormac's. This is a book in it's own right. 

The story jumps from Malorie leaving the house and to why she left. It was organized enough so you didn't get lost with the jumping back and forth. It ran smoothly. I had a difficult time enjoying any of the characters. Malorie annoyed me especially when she was calling her child 'boy' and 'girl' the whole time. It felt she had no sympathy for them. I saw the point of this at the very end of the book, but I couldn't get past that. 

When I was looking for a horror book, I definitely got it with Bird Box. I found myself only reading it during day light because some parts where terrifying and graphically detailed. I don't get scared easily when it comes to novels, but this was one that did it for me. It was exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be scared and questioning my familiar black shadows. 

This book is DEFINITELY not for everyone. I would say if you can handle The Road or some of King's horror books then you will be fine reading Bird Box. 

Roomies by by Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando

Roomies
by Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando
Pages: 297
Published December 24th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 

Summary: It's time to meet your new roomie.

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.

As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate.

MY REVIEW 

Roomies is a story about life in between high school and the start of college. It documents those last few moments that you have with family, friends and who truly matters in your life. Roomies follows the story of Elizabeth or Eb and Lauren as they email each other back and forth to get to know each other before college. Before they realize they are relying on each other through their summers ups and downs and what they thought was completely weird turns into a surprised friendship. 

I enjoyed this book. I never went to college, but some how I still found myself attached to Elizabeth and Lauren and their experience. Maybe it's because I feel I missed out on this portion of my life, or the characters were that relateable. Either or, this was one of the few books where I enjoyed every single character. There wasn't a character I didn't like. 

I like how they started out just emailing each other and then found themselves building this friendship over time. They go about their lives and rely on each other in their times of need. 

The only thing I did have to complain about the book was I wanted more at the end. It cuts off at a cliffhanger, and it's like ugh. I wanted a little more from that, but after the initial let down of the end, I felt it was a good place to stop. It could have dragged on. It also leaves room for a sequel if they so desire. 

Disconnected by Lisa M. Cronkhite

Disconnected
By Lisa M Cronkhite
Pages 200
Expected Publish: June 3rd 2014 by Poisoned Pencil
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Notes: This book was given to me through NetGalley for an honest review.

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Milly has a huge problem on her hands.  She is being bullied by Amelia Norris. Day in and day out, Amelia torments Milly and even threatens to hurt her, but she can’t tell anyone—not a soul.  Milly’s reasoning—she does not want anyone to know where her tormentor lives.  They only share one thing in common.  Both co-exist as one in the same body. Milly is so disconnected from her past that she feels compelled to find out what truly happened to her when her parents were still alive.  After a mysterious fire, she and Grandpa George move into Aunt Rachel's Victorian home where Milly then begins to unravel puzzling clues to her family history. Through dreams and scattered memories, Milly journals her breaking story, trying to cope by putting the shattered pieces back together, all the while resisting with her inner demon.  Amelia is determined to cut Milly out of the real world—literally.Milly starts to wonder who her real family is after stumbling across Aunt Rachel’s notebook—having the intuitive sense that something terribly awful is missing.  All she had thought to be true now seems like one big lie.

MY REVIEW 

This story is about Milly who suffers black outs and past demons that she is trying to figure out what happened. She is also bullied by a girl named Amelia. Amelia thinks the worst of Milly and she struggles with her harsh criticize daily and at times Milly tries to break free of Amelia and sometimes those lead to dangerous things.  

I could not finish this book, sadly. It had so much potential. Dealing with depression myself I often read these kinds of books because it's a good thing for teens to read about and how a lot of them do struggle with this daily. Lisa had a great idea. Something was off. I wish I could put my finger on it, but this goes in my DNF pile.

The Listeners by Jo Cole

The Listeners
By Jo Cole
Pages: 239
Published May 7th 2013
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Summary: Rebecca Porter is a pretty average teenager—except for the fact that she sometimes blacks out and wakes up in other people’s bodies.

THE LISTENERS follows the parallel stories of Rebecca and Ethan, two teenagers who have the amazing ability to listen to the thoughts of others and control their actions.

When Rebecca learns that she’s been tasked with protecting Ethan from completing a mission that will cost him his life, she'll stop at nothing to protect the life of an innocent stranger. But how do you save someone that doesn't want to be saved?

Combining nonstop action, a crush that can read minds (so unfair) and relentless paranormal suspense, THE LISTENERS makes it clear that the battle against evil requires both mental and physical strength.

MY REVIEW 

The Listeners is a story about teenager Rebecca Porter who finds out that she has a gift. She finds out that she can hear people's thoughts and she can also control their actions. We also meet Ethan who is much like Rebecca, but Ethan is on the other side of the country and soon to get himself into a lot of trouble. Rebecca's goal is to help Ethan not get into trouble while trying to figure out her feelings as she finds out her crush "hot Kevin" is not exactly who he says he is. They have more in common than she thinks. 

I really enjoyed the Listeners. The chapters switch off between Rebecca and Ethan's point of view. They also throw in John Dunn's point of view. This was a small thing that bugged me. I wish there was a couple more chapters of John's point of view instead of just the one. It would have balanced out the book a little bit, but it would have also been nice to see his point of view at the end. I guess it could be a good idea for a novella. 

Though the ending did become predictable, I really enjoyed the book. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed myself. I felt like I didn't waste my time reading it. I was happy to find out that this book is a series because it leaves you with a cliff hanger. I suggest reading this novel right before the other one comes out so you're not craving more and you have to wait.

4 to 16 Characters by Kelly Hourihan

Title: 4 to 16 Characters
Author: Kelly Hourihan
Pages: 314
Published November 7th 2013 by Lemon Sherbet Press

* This was given to me thanks to Lemon Sherbet Press & Netgalley for an honest review.

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Jane Shilling’s best friends don’t know her real name. In fact, they don’t know anything about her at all. Jane’s life has collapsed in the last few years; following the death of her mother, her father turned to drinking, and Jane is reeling from the double blow. To escape, Jane devises a number of online personas, each with a distinct personality, life history, and set of friends. But things become trickier when she finds herself drawing close to some of her online friends, and winds up struggling with the question of how to maintain a real friendship while masquerading as a fake person. With the help of Gary, a socially awkward classmate and competitive Skeeball player who is Jane’s only offline friend, and Nora, her therapist, Jane begins to sift through her issues. The only catch is that that involves taking a long, hard look at what her life’s like when the computer is shut off, and that’s a reality she’s been fighting for years.

MY REVIEW

4 to 16 Characters is a story of Jane who loves being online and creating fake personalities mixed with her own reality to not face her own world. 

I hate to admit this, but I related to Jane A LOT in this book. A few years ago I was apart of the very popular fandom of LOST, and would often role play characters from the tv. While I didn't do the fan fiction writing of it, the role play was very much in the same sense. I was glued to my group of online writing fans and we would talk about the show and talk about up coming lines we would have in the writing group. It was a lot of fun at the time. It's something that was a lot of fun, and allowed you to connect with other fans in the same fandom. Unlike Jane, I didn't have multiple personalities online. Just the one I was writing in the group, and when I was talking "out of character" I was true to who I was. 

I thought this book was entertaining and a quick read. This was told through emails, posts, and other forms of online which makes the book quick.  The only thing I would complain about is that the adults had voices like children. Sure the father did lose his wife and was a drunk, but how it was written he sounded like a whiny teenager. Overall, not a bad book. Enjoyable. 

 

{Arc Review} And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

Title: And We Stay
Author: Jenny Hubbard
Pages: 240
Published: January 28th 2014 by Delacorte Press

* This was given to me by NetGalley for an honest review

Summary: When high school senior Paul Wagoner walks into his school library with a stolen gun, he threatens his girlfriend Emily Beam, then takes his own life. In the wake of the tragedy, an angry and guilt-ridden Emily is shipped off to boarding school in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she encounters a ghostly presence who shares her name. The spirit of Emily Dickinson and two quirky girls offer helping hands, but it is up to Emily to heal her own damaged self.

This inventive story, told in verse and in prose, paints the aftermath of tragedy as a landscape where there is good behind the bad, hope inside the despair, and springtime under the snow.

MY REVIEW

Unfortunately, I could not finish this novel. This subject is not written a lot in YA and it should be addressed. However, when reading And We Stay, I felt that Emily's voice was much younger than a 17 year old. She felt more like a middle schooler. I give props to Hubbard for tackling a subject that is difficult, and as mentioned.

Dark Inside (Dark Inside #1) by Jeyn Roberts

Title: Dark Inside
Author: Jeyn Roberts
Pages: 368
Published: September 2nd 2011 by Macmillan Children's Books
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Summary: Since the beginning of mankind, civilizations have fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs...and now us. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening: An ancient evil has been unleashed, and it's turning everyday people into hunters, killers, and crazies. This is the world Mason, Aries, Clementine, and Michael are living in--or rather, trying to survive. Each is fleeing unspeakable horror, from murderous chaos to brutal natural disasters, and each is traveling the same road in a world gone mad. Amid the throes of the apocalypse and clinging to love and meaning wherever it can be found, these four teens are on a journey into the heart of darkness--and to find each other and a place of safety.

  

MY REVIEW

This story takes place in modern times and around a few different characters lives through the end of the world synopsis. You have Aries who was on her way to play practice, Michael who was driving with his friend, Mason who received some tragic news and Clementine who was at a town meeting when things happened. An earth quake took over the world, and you either survived or you didn't. If you survived you became one of them the "Baggers" or you fought to survive. 

I have been on a dystophian kick lately, and I loved this book. Each chapter is told from the point of views of Aries, Mason, Clementine, Michael and Nothing. You watch each of them survive the destruction, and each work their way towards each other. 

The writing was so different from many young adult books. It often felt that it should be geared towards adults. There was some scenes that some would not be able to handle if you have a weak stomach. You watched characters fight for their lives, and also fight the demons in themselves. I would recommend this in a beat for someone who likes dystophian type books and looking for a quick and easy read. I kept think how interesting this would be turned into a film or tv show. There wasn't a single character I didn't like.