Category Archives: Book Reviews

Best Books of 2013

It’s been a great year – I read 47 great books, but unfortunately did not meet my reading goal of 50. (2014, maybe?) Below I’ve listed (in no particular order) the best books I read in 2013. Click on the links to read my review of the book.

*Several of the books on this list were published in years prior to 2013, but are included merely because I read them for the first time this year.

 

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Clockwork Princess (Cassandra Clare)

The Host (Stephanie Meyer)

Mind Games (Kiersten White)

Shadow and Bone (Leigh Bardugo)

Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)

The Fault in Our Stars (John Green)

Just Listen (Sarah Dessen)

The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)

The Cuckoo’s Calling (Robert Galbraith)

 

Brooke Reviews: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book ThiefThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was an extremely touching novel. There are many reasons I completely fell in love with this book, but I’ll give you my top three.

1. The book is narrated by Death.
Death personified makes for a fascinating read. Death has such an eloquent way of describing things. Everything is a color. He foreshadows but also flashes back. He frequently makes interesting side notes. He tells Leisel Meminger’s story through his own lens.

2. Leisel Meminger, book thief, protagonist of the novel.
Leisel is a little bit of everything. She is loyal, she is sensitive, she is strong, she is smart, she is stubborn, she is eager. She has a fierce love of words.

3. Time period – WWII, Nazi Germany.
I just don’t think this book would be the same if it didn’t take place during WWII. Leisel Meminger’s story is special, because she formed a special relationship with a Jew who hid in her basement. Leisel saw and experienced many things a young girl should never see or experience.

This book was such a beautiful (yet somewhat tragic) tale about friendship and love and the power of words.

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Best Books of Summer

School is back in session, but I did some great reading over the summer. Because I did not write reviews for these books, I thought it might be a better idea to list these novels in one place.

 

In no particular order:

 

Reboot-HC-CoverReboot (Amy Tintera) – Loved the concept of this book – so interesting. Wren is a hard-core protagonist, but I loved her contradictory character and her dynamic with Callum, who pushes past the walls guarding Wren’s heart.

 

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Shadow and Bone (Leigh Bardugo) – Read this book in a day. On vacation, during the half-hour car ride from my cousins’ house to Washington, D.C.. Loved the world Leigh Bardugo created, and was fascinated by the Shadow Fold and both Alina and the Darkling’s powers. I also read Siege and Storm, the sequel. Currently waiting on Book 3, Ruin and Rising, which will be released in 2014.

 

kiterunnerKite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) – I have no words.

Also read this book while on vacation in Washington, D.C. (or on the plane, rather). This was my assigned summer reading for my AP Literature class, and honestly, I did not expect to enjoy it. But the book was so rich and meaningful and I still sometimes catch myself thinking about it. Khaled Hosseini creates Amir to be a protagonist the reader both hates and loves, because we recognize him as a coward but identify with his humanness.

 

fault in our stars

The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) – Picked it up in my local bookstore because I’ve heard so many great things. Couldn’t put it down! Hazel and Gus are such quirky characters, and both captured my heart. Warning: do not read this book without  a box of tissues close by.

 

9780142410974_JustListen_CV.inddJust Listen (Sarah Dessen) – Actually, I read five Sarah Dessen novels (including Just Listen) and thoroughly enjoyed them all. She truly has a gift for creating characters her readers can completely identify with.

And, of course, I am a sucker for romance.

 

*To come: Review of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

 

Blog schedule for the remainder of 2013 – I will be posting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Posts will include general writing tips, book reviews, and author interviews.)

Brooke Reviews: Chasing Jupiter by Rachel Coker

Chasing JupiterChasing Jupiter by Rachel Coker

Chasing Jupiter, by Rachel Coker, was a sweet and moving novel which I definitely enjoyed.

Scarlett is only 16, but she is the glue which keeps her family together. Her parents are struggling financially, and don’t understand their eldest daughter Julie, who has died her hair blue, or their youngest son Cliff, who is obsessed with Spanish battles and sometimes refers to himself in third person. Scarlett is Cliff’s caretaker, as well as the family cook, and is often asked to babysit her grandfather on top of it all.

When Cliff asks for a rocket to Jupiter, Scarlett believes it could be a fun summer project. She and Cliff, with the help of Frank (Scarlett’s crush), sell peach pies to earn the money for their rocket. But Scarlett’s family continues to fall apart and Scarlett believes it’s her fault.

I think Scarlett is a character many of us can identify with, because she believes she must do everything herself. Rather than giving up her burdens and trusting in Christ, she continues to rely on her own strength to keep her family together.

Scarlett and Cliff’s story was so touching. Their love and loyalty for each other was a large part of what prompted me to keep reading. Both Scarlett and Cliff were quirky characters, but their unique personalities were original and refreshing.

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Also, check out my interview with teen author Rachel Coker and visit Coker’s website to find out more about her books.

Have you read this novel? Comment to give me your thoughts! 

Brooke Reviews: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1)Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book in one day. Could not put it down.

I’ll do my best to explain why it was so great, although I don’t think I could do it justice.

Orphans Alina and Mal are best friends, but their lives change forever when Alina is recognized as a Grisha and she and Mal are torn apart. The Grisha are the “kingdom’s magical elite,” led by the Darkling. Suddenly, Alina is living in a palace with the other Grisha and learning to control her power as Sun Summoner. She is the kingdom’s only hope, because she can destroy the Shadow Fold, the “swathe of impenetrable darkness” which has torn the nation in half.

The book isn’t action-packed, and the fantasy world isn’t extraordinary. But I fell for the characters and author Leigh Bardugo completely took me by surprise with an unexpected plot twist. I usually have some idea of what is coming, but I’m fairly certain I actually gasped aloud when I read a particular passage about half-way through the novel.

The ending was not predictable, which was refreshing. Bardugo tied up loose ends but I’m still anxious for the sequel. And I think it’s important that I mention something about the love triangle. In every book I’ve ever read, I usually have a clear idea of who I’m rooting for. In this case, I didn’t know who to choose, and I didn’t know how Alina could possibly choose either.

Overall, the book was simply written but also brilliant. Can’t wait to read Siege and Storm, book 2 in the Grisha Trilogy.

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Have you read this novel? Comment to give me your thoughts! 

Brooke Reviews: Reboot by Amy Tintera

Reboot (Reboot, #1)Reboot by Amy Tintera

Reboot, by Amy Tintera, was an exciting dystopian novel.

Wren Connolly was 12 when she was shot three times in the chest. She was dead for 178 minutes before she came back as a “Reboot.”

At 17 years old, Wren has a reputation. Her number – 178 – identifies her as the “deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas,” because she is “less human” than the Reboots who were dead for a shorter period of time.

In the beginning of the book, the reader can tell that Wren is completely accepting of her situation. It doesn’t seem to bother her that she is used to capture, and sometimes kill, humans. I think Wren’s growth as a character was interesting because she needed to discover that she shouldn’t be defined by her number.

Of course, she was only able to find herself with the help of Callum Reyes, a newbie Wren decided to train. In every respect, Callum and Wren are opposites, but they form a bond which gives Wren new perspective on life. This is why I liked Callum: when everyone believed Wren was nothing but an empty shell, he knew it wasn’t true and refused to treat her like everyone else.

The book was fast-paced and interesting. I look forward to reading Book 2. 🙂

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Have you read this novel? Comment to give me your thoughts! 

Brooke Reviews: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium (Delirium, #1)Delirium by Lauren Oliver

What if love were a disease?

Um, obviously a must-read.

Delirium, by Lauren Oliver, did not disappoint. Oliver poses an incredibly thought-provoking question which hooks the reader from page 1. (First line: “It has been sixty-four years since the president and the Consortium identified love as a disease, and forty-three since the scientists perfected a cure.”) The protagonist, Lena Haloway, is a girl who believes in the system and the cure which will rid her of amor deliria nervosa. However, she is also held captive by fear. She lives with her aunt because her mother commit suicide due to the disease. She counts the days until her procedure, but her mother is always in the back of her mind…the procedure didn’t work for her mother.

At first, I wasn’t sure I really liked Lena’s character. But as the book progressed my love for her grew. I began to identify with her, empathize with her. I was proud when she recognized her society for what it was and began to shed her original beliefs. Her love story is special because Lena did not even know what love was. The characters were definitely special, and very well-written.

Powerful, exquisite, and moving. 🙂 I can’t wait to read the two remaining books in the trilogy.

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Have you read this novel? Comment to give me your thoughts! 

Brooke Reviews: Counting Backwards by Laura Lascarso

Counting BackwardsCounting Backwards by Laura Lascarso

Counting Backwards, by Laura Lascarso, was a touching novel about the complications of discovering oneself. The protagonist of Lascarso’s debut finds it difficult to let go of her anger and trust anyone but herself, but she eventually realizes what it means to love and be loved.

Taylor is a 16 year old who is angry with the world. She’s angry with her father, for leaving her mother, she’s angry with her mother, an alcoholic, and she’s angry that she’s ended up in Sunny Meadows, a juvenile psychiatric correctional facility. Taylor just wants a way out, and is reluctant to make any effort to change.

I really enjoyed this book because Taylor’s journey is emotional and moving. Although it was often easy to get frustrated and annoyed with Taylor’s decisions, I understood why she chose to do the things she did and my heart went out to her. The reader sees everything through Taylor’s eyes, and it was interesting to watch her perspective slowly change.

The characters were quirky. Taylor’s unlikely friends have much to do with her recovery. The plot was refreshing. Lascarso crafted a very realistic story, and I admire her for that. Taylor is a teenager who has gone through a lot. It shouldn’t have been easy for her to change. Her issues, and her fears, were much deeper than even she realized.

This book is honest, something that readers appreciate. Definitely a must-read. 🙂

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**If you haven’t already, check out my interview with author Laura Lascarso.

Have you read this novel? Comment to give me your thoughts! 

Brooke Reviews: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Mind Games (Mind Games, #1)Mind Games by Kiersten White

This book was fantastic, in more ways than one.

I loved the way Fia and Annie’s story was told – I only learned bits and pieces as the story progressed, going back and forth between the present and the past. Narrated by both Fia and Annie, the book was intriguing and exciting and I couldn’t put it down because I was so extremely invested and attached. From page 1 until page 237.

Fia and Annie are sisters and orphans. Annie is blind, but she is a Seer who glimpses the future. Fia is also extraordinary, gifted with perfect instincts. After the death of their parents, the girls are taken to a school where they become prisoners, used by a man who benefits from their abilities. The girls are intensely loyal to one another, and their bond is what ties them to their bleak situation. Fia does whatever she is told to do, terrible things, because if she does not she is putting her sister at risk.

Their story is so raw and emotional because of the deep relationship and love they have for one another. It becomes clear that both girls would sacrifice anything to protect the other. Although the plot of this novel is what originally drew me in, the characters captured my heart.

They are so real. Fia taps, taps, taps. Her quirks and the repetition of her thoughts make her unique. She is funny and strong and broken. James Keane, son of the man who keeps the girls captive, is difficult to figure out. I questioned his motives throughout the book and was torn between hating him and falling for his charm.

Read the book. Read it, because the concept is new and fresh, the characters are unique, and their story is beautifully written.

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Have you read this novel? Comment to give me your thoughts! 

Brooke Reviews: The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite (The Selection, #2)The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite, written by Kiera Cass and sequel to The Selection, was a book I could not put down.

Although it rather annoyed me at times, I was completely engrossed until I read the last line. In The Elite, America (the protagonist I love) must make her choice. She must choose either Maxon (the prince) or Aspen (her first love), because time is running out.

Only five other girls remain in the competition to win Maxon’s heart and become princess. America knows that Maxon is in love with her, but she continues to ask for more time to learn where her heart lies. Meanwhile, the conflict with the Rebels and the general civil unrest moves to the forefront of the novel’s plot.

The reason I had such a love/hate relationship with this book was due to America’s indecision throughout the novel, because (in my opinion) it was very unlike her true character. America was very emotional. She had good reason to be, but I felt as though she questioned herself in every chapter. The reader thinks she’s made her choice at the beginning, (Maxon vs. Aspen), but it becomes clear that America does not know what she wants.

However, I really enjoyed reading more about Maxon’s relationship with the remaining girls of the competition. I thought it was refreshing to read about America’s jealousy.

When I realized I’d have to wait nearly a year for the release of Book 3, I was crushed. It’s going to be a long wait.

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