Category Archives: Buzz

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

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Before I Fall follows the life of a senior girl in high school, Samantha Kingston. She and her three friends are some of the most popular girls in school. Samantha has it all, perfect boyfriend, three supporting best friends, everything any teenage girl could hope for. Everything was perfect until February 12th. Samantha and her three friends attend a party and make a drunken mistake, resulting in Samantha’s death. However, instead of going to heaven or hell or whatever, Samantha relives February 12th seven times. Through these seven repeats she uncovers secrets about her death She uncovers secrets about everything and everyone close to her. How much will she risk to save her own life?

The book started off rather slow and a little too cliche for my tastes. Oliver portrayed high school in a very stereotypical way and Samantha as a character was very unlikeable to start off. Her and her friends were catty and rude and I was sick and tired of hearing the character complain about trivial things such as spilt coffee. However, I am no quitter as a reader and so I pulled through. And boy, am I glad I did. The story started picking up, hitting its climax in the most amazing way. Samantha changed as a character and the reader could see clear as day the character development. She changed from a snotty teenage brat to a sophisticated human being who slowly uncovered the secret to life. The secret to really living life and not just gliding by it. Samantha began treating people differently and making new risks that popular Samantha Kingston would’ve never made in the first chapter.
The last two or so chapters kept me totally captivated, I was unable to set the book down. Flipping page after page new secrets were uncovered and Samantha turned into someone that the reader should aspire to be. Samantha was on a mission, a mission to not only save others but to also save herself. The ending to the story left me with a full feeling. I did feel like crying, if not more than just a tear or two.
Samantha Kingston was a one layered character that, personally, I did not connect to at all. She was unlikeable, and for good reason. However, Oliver used her writing skills to change the reader’s mind, and instead we fell in love with Samantha Kingston and her selflessness and her constant need to save herself. Because, in the end, Samantha really did save herself.
This was the first book I have ever read by Lauren Oliver and I think it was a good introduction into her writing. She uses a lot of metaphors and similes, which when you first start reading feels a little weird and out of place. However, adjusting yourself to her writing really helps you connect with Oliver’s characters and in turn makes you feel many new emotions. Personally, I really enjoyed her writing and I felt myself attracted to the way she described things in new ways, even trivial things.

Overall, as a fellow reader, I would say pull through. Pull through the first two or three chapters because it gets better. It gets much much better and if you start the book and don’t finish you will surely regret it. I promise.
If you enjoyed the following books I think you will enjoy Before I Fall:
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

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I’m sure you’ve at least heard of Victor Frankenstein, right? You know he creates a monster and brings it to life. With the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein being this year, Kiersten White has written a spinoff novel focusing on Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor’s childhood friend. With her new book, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, Kiersten White brings a thrilling and twisted new perspective of the classic tale.
Elizabeth’s mother died in childbirth and she was left with an abusive caregiver who made it known that Elizabeth was a burden. Yearning for a better life, Elizabeth was happy to keep Victor calm and happy in exchange for the new home the Frankenstein’s offer in exchange for help in controlling Victor. Her youth is spent keeping him— and herself, safe, even when she doesn’t know the whole story. When Victor set off to pursue his studies he left Elizabeth behind, and she soon grew concerned about how secure her place in the Frankenstein household was with Victor gone. But when Elizabeth set out to find Victor and bring him home she had no idea what she was getting herself into.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

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Maybe you have seen the current buzz about Netflix’s latest movie, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. However, most people do not know that this movie was based on a book of the same name! To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is actually part of a trilogy written by the fantastic Jenny Han. This book is one of my all-time favorite because of its wonderful characters, great plot and writing, and representation.
This story’s fantastic plot had me finishing the book within the day I picked it up. The concept of the love letters is pure genius, and the originality of the idea pulled me in and kept me engaged. Han put a fun spin on the classic love triangle, and the deft writing allows the story to be fresh and interesting rather than clichéd. The story is wholesome without being boring, and endearing without being sickly sweet. Han’s writing has a general warm and homey mood to it, which in turn strengthens Lara Jean’s character.
As soon as I read the first page, I instantly fell in love with the protagonist, Lara Jean Song Covey. Lara Jean is one of the most kind, caring, and warm-hearted characters I have ever read about. I admire her sweet nature and her love for her family. She truly values those that are close to her, and will be there to support them. Peter Kavinsky was the next character that I enjoyed reading about. He has this almost childish air about him, and his charisma easily charms any reader. He is playful and easygoing when with his peers, and he enjoys living in the moment and appreciating the little things. With his confidence and big heart, it is no wonder that he is such a beloved character. Kitty Song Covey was the last character that I loved getting to know. Her humor provides an excellent source of comic relief among the drama, and she adds so much to her family and to the story. She always has something clever to say and makes the dynamic between the characters more fun and lighthearted.
Furthermore, this book is one of my absolute favorites because of its representation. The story is centered on a teenage Korean-American girl, whose sisters and mother are also Korean. Although I am not Korean myself, I am Chinese and therefore Asian. I rarely see stories (books, movies, television shows, or otherwise) that star Asian leads and Asian stories. Seeing an Asian girl on a book cover made me feel incredibly overjoyed because I was able to see myself in the book I was reading. Reading this book helped me understand why representation matters so much, and it is because representation tells people that their stories matter and do not hold less importance than others.
I highly recommend reading this book and seeing the adaptation on Netflix (this post is not sponsored; I just really enjoyed the movie). Not only would you be reading and watching a cute love story unfold, you would be supporting representation of thousands of people who are finally seeing themselves in books and movies. Please go support this amazing work of literature, as well as the equally amazing Asian representation!

Wait For Me by An Na

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Wait For Me by An Na is definitely on the top ten of my reading list. It’s a compelling novel about love and carving your own path in life. The main character, Mina, has a deaf sister who she has to take care of and a mother breathing down her back about getting into Harvard. Along the way, she meets Ysrael. Yes, I know that a lot of love stories are similar and they all kind of encompass the whole “happily ever after” thing. But Mina and Ysrael’s relationship is so heartwarming and just amazing in general. An Na creates a story that you don’t want to end. You want the story to keep spinning and the character’s relationships to keep blossoming and unpacking. I have read many many books before, most of them being completely magical and amazing. But this book surpasses all of them. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is in for a real adventure.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

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Several months ago, a friend of mine sent me a book for my birthday: Caraval. In retrospect, I should have picked it up much sooner. Caraval has become one of my favorite YA books to date, and its sequel- Legendary is, if possible, even better. In her amazing debut Stephanie Garber redefined fantasy in this twisting tale seeped in dark magic and unexpected revelations.

Scarlet Dragna lives on the Isle of Trisda with her sister Tella and their cruel father. For years Scarlet has written letters to Legend, master of the magical circus-game of Caraval, begging him to come to Trisda. Now engaged and ready to escape Trisda with her sister, Scarlet finally recieves a reply from Legend- and three tickets. Now Scarlet must make a choice: marry the man her father chose for her, or run away to attend Caraval with Tella and the handsome young sailor who has offered his help in exchange for a ticket.

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

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 Bridge of Clay is a book about stories. It’s about an immigrant girl whose father sent her across the sea with the Odyssey, the Iliad and a love of the piano. It’s about a boy who loved the girl in his paintings more than the one he painted them of. It’s about a jockey and her horse and a very stubborn mule. It’s about a family. It’s about Clay and his brothers. It’s about how everything and everyone has a story if you look hard enough, and those stories shape us into the people we are.

Clay Dunbar’s mother died when he was in middle school. His dad left a few months later. For years it’s just been him and his four brothers and that’s been okay. They made it okay. But now their father is back, and with a request. He wants one of his sons to come back home with him, and help him build a bridge.
Bridge of Clay is a bittersweet story of a father and son reconnecting after years of estrangement. The main plot is interwoven with the lives of the people around Clay, a resonant reminder that there are always other sides to the story and always past experiences that influence the present. Once again, Zusak thoughtfully weaves a masterful tale to stir the hearts of readers everywhere.

Every Day by David Levithan

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Every Day by David Levithan, is probably my favorite book. It is a beautiful story about love, the obstacles of life, and how important making memories is. The main character, A, wakes up every single day in a new place, in a new body. He takes over for a day, traveling through this strange life and seeing all kinds of things. One day, he wakes up in the body of Justin, and meets his girlfriend- Rhiannon. Love at first sight is such a cliche, but David Levithan makes it fascinatingly real. He tells the story of A and Rhiannon, and the intense obstacles they have to face, even just to talk to each other! This love story is one of a kind, and it will keep you wanting more.
I love this book because it is a completely new take on a love story. They get repetitive after a while, and this brings a fresh take to the YA genre. Every Day sucks you in; you feel the character’s emotions; you live this story. I read this a few years ago, but even now I still remember the feelings washing over me as I indulged in this. It is memorable, beautiful, and heart-racing. This is the most interesting book I have ever read, and that’s saying something! David Levithan truly brings such a riveting storyline to such a unique group of characters. I’m glad it has a sequel! I cannot praise this book enough, and it will always be an all-time favorite.

Exclusive Interview with Lisa Jensen!

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  1. Fairytale retellings have become very popular in recent years, particularly in YA literature; what do you think makes these stories so compelling?

    Like all folklore, fairy tales have been passed down between the generations for centuries. The details of each story may evolve in the telling over time, but the essence of each tale persists — a poor girl goes to the ball and wins a prince; a beauty falls in love with a scary beast. These tales are in our blood!

    But as readers, we also respond differently as we ourselves evolve out of childhood and into adulthood. There are infinite new ways to look at these classic stories, which is what writers find so irresistible. And fortunately, it seems like readers are just as eager to come along for the ride!

    You’ve written a couple adult books as well as having been a film critic and a columnist, what made you decide to make Beast a YA novel?

    Beast was originally written as an adult novel. But an editor at Candlewick, the fabulous Kaylan Adair, fell in love with the book and bought it for her YA line. We had some tweaking to do over the long editing process, but I think it’s a stronger book now. My original take on the story also had to evolve in subtle ways as I began to view it from a YA perspective.

    Your book tackles some important issues (e.g. sexual assault), what do you think the responsibility of authors (particularly of YA and children’s books) is to talk about these controversial topics?

    In Beast, I wanted to focus on the profound effect of assault on my heroine, as she grapples with feelings of shame, despair, and finally, rage. (That’s the “Revenge” part of the story.) She has to learn that she’s not responsible for what was done to her, and that it also lies within her power to seize control of her own life again and grow stronger. That’s the journey she is on, just as Beast is on a journey to find his place in a human world. They both must tap into their inner humanity.

    What advice would you give to aspiring authors about writing and publishing their stories?

    Read everything you can! Especially by authors you love! (Although, back when I was an occasional book reviewer for the SF Chronicle, I found it was almost as useful to learn what not to do from books that I didn’t think worked!) Write all the time, even if it’s just in your own private journal that no one will ever see, to teach yourself to shape language. Then write the story that’s in your heart — nobody else can tell that story in the same way as you. And Never. Ever. Give. Up!

    Some authors have said that they write the books they needed when they were kids, do you feel this is true of yours?

    No, I wrote this book for the person I am now — someone who loves Beauty and the Beast, but thinks the noble Beast deserves to be the hero of the story, not the prince!

    Do you have any plans for future books?

    Always!

Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge by Lisa Jensen

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When Lucie came to Château Beaumont she was looking for a job that would get her away from home. She wasn’t prepared for the cruel and handsome Chevalier de Beaumont, and the strange tale born from her own hatred of him. But when an old witch curses the Chevalier to become a fearsome beast and Lucie a candlestick to watch him, everything changes.
As Beast, the Chevalier is quiet and kind, even to Lucie, only wanting to keep to himself and tend his garden. All too soon, Lucie finds herself drawn to- even befriending, the lonely beast. But with the arrival of Rose, a beautiful young merchant’s daughter, their fragile peace threatens to break. For if Rose offers to marry Beast, the Chevalier will return, and only Lucie knows how terrible that would be. And only Lucie has a chance of stopping it from happening.

Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge

Tradition by Brendan Kiely

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Books have always played an important role in educating the next generation, but in this day and age YA authors have become invaluable in providing valuable lessons and role models for teens and adults alike. Brendan Kiely’s new book Tradition is one such novel that will no doubt be considered a modern classic by generations to come.
For James Baxter Fullbrook Academy is a second chance and he’s determined not to waste it. He’s at Fullbrook on a hockey scholarship after his life at home was shattered by a horrible accident. At Fullbrook nobody knows about his past, at Fullbrook he’s the Buckeye, the secret weapon, special and revered.
But then Bax meets Jules Deveraux, the one person at Fulbrook strong enough to stand up for what she believes in. Soon Bax finds himself taking on social injustice with Jules and their friends Aileen and Javi.
But Fulbrook is a place of privilege and toxic rites of passage. Tradition is as much a part of the school as the ivy-covered walls and the unspoken rules that nobody dares defy.