Book Review (68).

The Catastrophic History of You and Me

by Jess Rothenberg

Publication: 28th March 2012
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
Pages:375
Genre: Fantasy
Age Appropriate: Young Adult

 Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever. 

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally. 

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after. 

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

My Thoughts.

Wow I don't even know how to start describing this book, heartbreaking comes to mind as does the power of forgiveness and acceptance that life moves on after you die and while you'll never ever forget your life, you'll never be forgotten either.

Which begs the question if you were to die tomorrow could you accept it? Or would you not be able to let go of your life?

Brie has this problem after dying of a broken heart (her heart actually broke in half) after her boyfriend told her he doesn't love her, Brie in her afterlife finds herself at her favourite pizza place, with a strange assortment of people, one of who is Patrick an eighteen year old boy who died in the eighties  and is dressed the part who helps her get through the grieving process of the end of her life.

But you see Brie is angry she's upset her life is over and she wants revenge on Jacob her boyfriend whom she blames for killing her, so she convinces Patrick to help her and it's when she goes back and is checking up on her family and friends she discovers that the people she left behind aren't handling it very well at all, her boyfriend Jacob was keeping a huge secret from her which was why he broke up with her, her best friend was also keeping something from her but it's the betrayal from her Dad that she discovers which hurts most of all, her Dad who is a well known heart surgeon is obsessed with discovering why Brie's heart broke the way it did and in the process has pushed his family away.

Patrick who seemed familiar to Brie when she first met him has some secrets too in fact a big one that may just involve Brie, and the way he died is part of the secret.

I loved the banter between these too and the various names he came up with for cheese (her name's Brie, get it?).

The way the book was separated into the five stages of grief was fantastically done, and the struggle Brie had to finally let go of her life and move on had me in tears, actually throughout the books I shed a tear or two which isn't good when you're in a food court at your local shopping centre or eating lunch in the tea room at work.

I loved the ending and while towards the end I sort of guessed what the connection was between Brie and Patrick it still made me happy when it was revealed.

A fantastic read which I highly recommend and I definitely look forward to seeing what the author has planned next.

I give this 5/5.

A Big Thanks To Penguin Australia.

Book Review (64).

Everneath (Everneath #1)

by Brodi Ashton

Publication: March 2012

Publisher: Simon And Schuster Australia

Pages: 370

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Price: $19.99

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..

My Thoughts.

Ever since this book appeared on Goodreads I've wanted it, drawn in by the absolutely gorgeous cover I was even more excited after reading the synopsis and couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy.

And I loved it, I devoured this book I couldn't get enough.

I was conflicted I wanted to rush through it to find out how Brodi ended this book but then another part of me was thinking you do that and yeah you'll be finished it but then you have to wait till next year to read the next one, and I really can't wait!

I really can't put into words the epicness of this book, Brodi is a genius for creating something so fresh, exciting and unputdownable.

Anyway your probably wanting me to stop babbling on so you can find out about the story, Nikki is released from the Everneath after a century of having her emotions and memories sucked out of her by Cole, which works out to six months in human time, all that time she has one image in her head that of a boy who's name she can't remember but who's face she definately does.

Nikki only has six months until she's sucked back into the Everneath for good either to the tunnels where she'll spend eternity getting sucked dry or as Cole's Queen.

After returning to school and having everyone believing she was in rehab all that time she runs into the boy who's face she never forgot Jack her boyfriend at the time she was taken, he never believed that she ran away and spent months searching for her and after so long of having no luck in finding her he withdrew into himself.

Cole is constantly turning up in her bedroom every night trying to convince her to become his Queen, she just wants to stay but knowing that's not possible she spends that time trying to say good-bye to her family and friends.

Jack is determined to find out why she left and because she acts so indifferent around him whether she remembers him at all especially as she arrives back on the surface devoid of emotions.

I love how if Nikki is thinking of something that the story takes you back and let's you read about that moment so throughout the book you're getting glimpses as to how Nikki ended up in the Everneath and the moment she first realised where she was.

And the inclusion of Mythology just makes it that much more exciting, and how the story of Eurydice and Orpheus plays a big part.

And now let's talk about Jack I looooove him and the fact that he held onto hope when she was gone, their whole relationship before and after Everneath was so sweet, and the story of how they first met had me laughing, and I'm definately Team Jack all the way.

I cannot say enough good things about this book and that ending OMG I was so close to tears but when you're sitting in the tea room at work eating lunch it's not such a great idea, I need to know now what happen's next I really, really can't wait!

Brodi please write faster I really don't have any patience to have to wait so long!

I give this 5/5.

A Big Thanks To Caroline @ Simon And Schuster Australia.

Book Review (61).

The Alchemy of Forever (Incarnation #1)

by Avery Williams 

Publication: March 2012

Publisher: Simon And Schuster Australia

Pages: 246

Genre: Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Price: $16.99

After spending six hundred years on Earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world's riches but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to take the bodies of other humans from jumping from one vessel to the next, ending the human's life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she's done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again. 

Then sixteen-year old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body while trying to save her. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she's inhabiting--and falling in love with the boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she's his again, and every moment she stays, she's putting herself and the people she's grown to care about in danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that's eluded her for centuries: true love?

My Thoughts.

I have been eagerly anticipating this book since I first heard about it quite a few months ago and it's been on my wishlist ever since then, so when I got sent a copy to review as you could of guessed I was very excited and I'm happy to say it was worth the anticipation.

Its the year 1349 and fourteen year old Seraphina is attending a masquerade ball with her parents, it's while taking a walk with a boy named Cyrus that two homeless people attempt to rob them and after Seraphina is stabbed Cyrus pulls out a vial which contains an elixir that will allow souls to move into another body so after talking her into it she takes the elixir and swaps bodies with one of the robbers who is female.

Flash forward to the present day and after being around for over 600 years and having gone through quite a few bodies Seraphina is ready to die, she's had enough and feels extreme guilt for all the lives she's taken (once her soul inhabits a body the person's soul dies) and Cyrus has become mean and abusive.

Her current body is dying so she finds it only fitting that she dies along with it, Cyrus hosts a party for her to choose a new body to inhabit but she drugs his wine and escapes she happens to come across a car accident where a sixteen year old girl Kailey is dying as Seraphina is trying to save her she gives in and takes over her body.

She wakes up in hospital and is immediately swept up into Kailey's life her family and friends and discovers that Kailey wasn't really all that nice a person, Seraphina finds herself attracted to the next door neighbour Noah a childhood friend of Kailey's who she would never acknowledge at school but hung out with at home.

And then Cyrus shows up looking for her and Seraphina has to decide whether to stay or run away.

I loved the plot for this book and eagerly await the next book, because after reading the last page I'm hanging to find out what's going to happen next.

I give this 4/5.

A Big Thanks To Caroline @ Simon And Schuster Australia.

Book Review (55).

Wonder

by R.J. Palacio

Publication: 14th February 2012

Publisher: Random House Australia

Pages: 315

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Appropriate: Middle Grade

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

My Thoughts.

I can't remember the last time I got so emotionally involved in a book, this story didn't just leave me a crying mess it broke my heart a little too, and I couldn't have picked a better ending for this fantastic book.

We have August (Auggie) ten years old a regular kid who's funny, really sweet loves his Xbox, Star Wars and reading but there's one thing that stands him apart from every other ten year old his face is deformed, he has had twenty seven surgeries on his face since he was born but he's still left with facial deformities, his eyes are halfway down his face, he has a hole inside his mouth so he can only chew with his front teeth, he has no cheekbones so his face is all sucked in and people describe it as if he'd been in a fire and his face has melted and he has pretty much no ears but can still hear.

After being home schooled all his life his parents decide to enrol him in grade 5 at school but Auggie doesn't want to go because he knows the reactions he'll get, the same ones he's been getting all his life from both children who sometimes scream when they see his face and adults who should know better but move themselves and their kids away when the see him.

Auggie also wore an astronaut helmet two years straight so no one could see his face.

While at his school to meet the principal before school starts he's introduced to three kids Jack, Julian and Charlotte who were asked to come in on their holidays to show Auggie around, and of course like most people are taken aback at his appearance, school starts and Auggie is excited he sits next to Jack but Julian is a mean boy and makes remarks that Auggie knows are directed at him, lunchtime comes and Auggie is sitting all alone while everyone is staring not wanting to get close in case they could somehow catch something off him because of his face which later becomes known as the Plague where everyone goes out of their way not to touch him, a girl called Summer sits down with him after initially feeling sorry for him but soon finds herself enjoying his company and becoming friends.

Anyone who decides to be friends with Auggie is ostracised thanks to Julian, him being in the popular clique.

One of the most emotional parts for me was Halloween, students were allowed to go to school in costume and at the last minute Auggie ran out of time to put his costume on so he put on his Bleeding Scream costume from the previous year and because he had a mask on no one recognized him and he overheard someone who he thought was a friend calling him names, so being all upset he pretended he was sick so he could go home,.

Just the anguish he went through wondering why he couldn't have a normal face like everybody else, even going camping on a school trip and he gets picked on by a bunch of kids from another school after he's been having such a good time.

The end I loved and I was crying tears of happiness for an ending that was perfect in my opinion and for one of the lines his Mum says to him"Thank you Auggie, for everything you've given us, for coming into our lives, for being you" (wow I started crying just typing that).

For all those people who have ever been bullied and who judge people on the way they look and yes I'm big enough to admit I've done it, but this book has made me sit and think for those people who have some kind of deformity they are still people too they just look a little different to you and I.

I can't say enough about this book, the writing was flawless and heartfelt and the author is amazing for being able to get into that mindset and believing in a character that just seemed so incredibly real and brave and courageous.

So please read this book it's fantastic and as Auggie would say 'cool beans'.

I give this an outstanding 5/5.

A big thanks to Random House Australia.

Book Review (47).

Fracture (Fracture)

by Megan Miranda

Publication: 27th January 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia

Pages: 261

Genre: Paranormal

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

—despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

My Thoughts.

What I loved so much about this book was the originality of a subject we don't read a lot about.

Delaney is out with her friend Decker going to meet a bunch of their other friends when while walking across an ice covered lake she falls and cracks the ice and before she knows it she falls in and is trapped under the ice.

We then flash forward to 6 days later and Delaney miraculously awakens from her coma, everybody including her doctor expected her to stay in a vegetative state and never wake up, it's then she's told she was dead for 11 minutes, pulled out of the lake and given cpr by Decker.

It's while she's in hospital that she feels her first pull towards the dying but at the time she doesn;t realise what it is but because of her brain damge she knows when someone is going to die the stronger the pull the closer they are to death.

After getting out of hospital she feels different and herv parents her Mum in particular treat her like she can't be trusted with anything not even to touch the oven and it's while out studying at the library one day with a friend that she meets Troy a boy she finds out who was also in a coma and has the same ability that she now does, the only difference being he speeds up their deaths belieiving it's better to put them out of their misery.

Also through all this Delaney realises that she has feelings for Decker and it's her jealousy of his relationship with Tara a semi friend of their's that drives a wedge between them, Delaney feels she's losing everyone around her, her Mum turns into a shallow shell not eating, compulsively cleaning and being extremely overprotective, her and Decker aren't talking and through time she comes to fear Troy, while also trying to prolong the lives of the people she knows are going to die.

Even though everyone was so happy she survived Delaney feels alienated from everyone and wonders whether it would have been better for everyone if she never woke up.

I loved this story,it flowed really well and I just wanted to keep reading to know what was going to happen next.

I give this 4/5.

A big thanks to Sonia @ Bloomsbury Australia.

2012 Debut Author Challenge.

CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:

• To read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 - January 31, 2013.*

*The 2013 extension is so that December Debuts can be read and count toward the challenge.

RULES & GUIDELINES:

• You must have a Blog to post your reviews or be a member of Goodreads. 
• Your blog must be written in English.
• Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.

BOOK GUIDELINES:

• Must be a young adult or middle grade title.
• Must be the author’s YA or MG debut, released in 2012.
• If an author has a previous novel published for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge.
• If an author has a previous YA or MG title, they do not qualify for the challenge.

Here are 12 debuts next year that I hope to read, more will be added along the way.