Check out Bookish Antics for reviews, giveaways and interviews! As of late, I’ve been reading more and more YA books about mental illness and I truly tCheck out Bookish Antics for reviews, giveaways and interviews! As of late, I’ve been reading more and more YA books about mental illness and I truly think that this is a subject that isn’t widely publicized enough. Challenger Deep is a beyond heartbreaking novel and I’ll even go as far as saying it’s perfect, a word that I don’t toss around lightly. Neal Shusterman has written numerous fantasy novels, but CD shows that what he really excels at is invoking readers’ emotions and writing books with heart. This is easily one of the most important novels ever written and Challenger Deep just might be Schusterman’s magnum opus.
Caden Bosch is drowning in himself and he’s losing sight of what’s real and what’s just in his head. He thinks classmates are trying to kill him, that nothing makes sense anymore and that the world is going to swallow him whole. Readers are brought aboard a pirate ship on a journey to the Challenger Deep and this is a trip they’ll never forget.
Neal Shusterman expertly balances Caden’s reality and the world he’s created, making readers question what’s really going on. This novel has a healthy dose of the real world and the fantastical one, both of which were finely crafted and imagined. I found myself immersed in both sides of the story and I enjoyed seeing how the two worlds were interwoven into each other.
Schizophrenia is something that’s real and it’s a disease that most of us are clueless about it. Neal Schusterman does an excellent job of shedding light on this terrible disease without unloading a textbook worth of info on readers. Caden Bosch’s character truly captures the fear, the unknowing and the danger that comes with schizophrenia, making Challenger Deep a difficult book to read.
Neal Schusterman’s son, Brendan has schizophrenia and this novel includes drawings his son made during schizophrenic episodes. There is so much depth in this novel and I haven’t seen mental illness captured in a way that has felt so raw and horrifying ever. This novel turns schizophrenia from something alien into a personal demon that’s frighteningly easy to understand.
This is not an “issue” book, it’s a journey of self-discovery and recovery. Challenger Deep shows the struggles that those with mental illness deal with on a daily basis without stigmatizing it. As informative as this book is about schizophrenia, this book is about Caden and not his disease. Caden is not defined by his disease ever and he’s never shown as someone who’s anything lesser because of his mental illness. Though Caden’s family doesn’t quite understand him, I’m truly glad this novel shows how important a support system can be for those in the Challenger Deep.
I’ll admit it, this novel made me bawl. I found myself so involved in this book and in the life of Caden that I couldn’t help but cry and cry for him. I cried for him because no one seemed to understand how he was drowning, not even himself. To say this book is powerful feels like an understatement because every words booms with importance and it should be treated as something sacred. This book could save lives, it could be the lifesaver that readers can cling to as they fight the currents of the world.
Read Challenger Deep and give it to friends, family members and co-workers, you never know who might be in need of help. This book should be in every school and library because it’s a beacon of hope that so many could benefit from. I can’t praise this book enough or stress how necessary of a read it truly is....more
I can't say much about this because the release date is so far away. What you should know is that this book is awesome, heartbreaking, sexy and just sI can't say much about this because the release date is so far away. What you should know is that this book is awesome, heartbreaking, sexy and just so much fun. Andrew Smith has written yet another masterpiece. ...more
I didn't know what I was getting into when I first started We Were Liars. I had no idea that this book would emotionally wreck me, it wasn't even a possibility in my mind. The John Green blurb and the description caught my interest, but other than that I had no idea what this book was about. Who would have thought that We Were Liars would easily escalate to the top of my favorite books shelf ?
Days after finishing We Were Liars, I still feel like I'm going to cry just from thinking about this book. I cried so much to the point where my head ached and I felt as if I would never be so touched by a book ever again. We Were Liars starts off innocently enough with a tale about a group of friends and it quickly turned into one of the most intense, shocking books I've ever read. Honestly, I'm speechless.
We Were Liars is one of the most beautifully written books I've read in years. E. Lockhart's writing style is simple, yet extremely power; Lockhart's prose will haunt readers long after they're finished. We Were Liars is an absolutely unforgettable thriller that deserves much acclaim; I really hope this wins the Printz Award and/or The National Book Award. This is one of the best YA books I've ever read period.
We Were Liars is the type of book that demands to be read, it's extremely addicting and once you start, there's no stopping. This is the type of book that many readers will be able to finish in one reading because it's that compelling. Seriously, don't plan on just reading one chapter because you will be so hooked that you will probably end up reading the entire book. There is no such thing as reading just one chapter of We Were Liars, it's just like eating only one piece of chocolate -- it's nearly impossible to just stop at one.
Moving, unforgettable, shocking, heartbreaking, poignant, groundbreaking are just a few of the words I would use to describe We Were Liar's ending. I did not see this coming even slightly, my heart was shattered into a million pieces and I'm still emotionally recovering. You cannot prepare yourself for the ending of We Were Liars, no matter how hard you try. Charm & Strange is only other book that I can think of that had an ending that was this astonishing and was so emotionally overwhelming. E. Lockhart is an expert at manipulating readers' emotions with ethos and I was way too overcome by a multitude of feelings to function properly.
We Were Liars deserves all of the hype it's been receiving and then some more. Don't overlook We Were Liars because it's an extremely intelligent psychological thriller and it's one of the best novels that I've read in years. Few novels have touched me like We Were Liars did and I really look forward to seeing how others react to this novel. The bottom line is We Were Liars is an absolute must-read and it will remain with readers longer after they read the final sentence. ...more
Check out Scott Reads It for giveaways, reviews and more! Charm & Strange is this mysterious enigma where everything slowly, and brilliantly falls iCheck out Scott Reads It for giveaways, reviews and more! Charm & Strange is this mysterious enigma where everything slowly, and brilliantly falls into place. I couldn't stop reading Charm & Strange at all and I actually read it in one sitting! I kept telling myself that I had to go to sleep but I just couldn't stop reading. This is going to be an extremely hard book to review without giving anything away.
It was actually kind of scary to read Charm & Strange due to all the emotions it unlocked within me. I've never had depression yet I instantly connected with Andrew and I definitely understood what he was going through. I understood exactly how Andrew was feeling, all those dark feelings swirling around inside of you, threatening to escape. Stephanie Kuehn managed to include so much raw emotion and feeling into Andrew.
Andrew may be a fictional character but he exists because there is a little bit of Andrew inside of everyone. Everyone experiences bad times and dark feelings that you just don't know how to express. Thank you, Stephanie Kuehn for bringing light to horrors that everyone deals with at some point in their life. Stephanie Kuehn has created the most realistic, complex characters that I have ever seen in all of literature. Her characters are the type that don't just live on the page, these are characters that you will keep with you in your mind. You won't be able to forget the characters Kuehn created and you'll be thinking about them long after you finish reading.
Charm & Strange is beautifully written in such an unique, heart-breaking way. This book will fill you with so much emotion that you didn't even know that it was building up inside of you. I loved the literary techniques Kuehn utilized in this book and they were so essential in making Charm & Strange, a hauntingly realistic book. At the end of this book, I couldn't help myself any longer and I just broke down in tears. Do yourself a favor and pick up Charm & Strange, (Note: I'm not responsible if this book shatters your heart into a million pieces and you're an emotional wreck afterwards.) Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. ...more
“Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.”
Between Shades Of Gray is a book that had been on my "To-Read" list for ages, yet I never felt an urge to pick it up. I know this book has a similar title to E.L. James's book, but I assure you they are nothing alike! I heard this book has even been banned in certain parts of the country because people thought it was Fifty Shades. Don't let the titles throw you off, you must read Between Shades Of Gray because it sheds light on a story that needs to be more wide-spread.
I'm still a student (as of 7/4/13) and yet I've never ever heard of the atrocities committed by the NKVD and Stalin in Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. Never once did I hear of the Baltic genocides carried out by the USSR, it wasn't even casually mentioned. I learned about the Holocaust, Rwandan genocide, Cambodia genocide, but never did I hear of the Baltic Genocide. You would think a mass-murder of 20 million people would have made it into my school's curriculum? It was almost as if the world was trying to cover up what happened to the Baltic people during the reign of Stalin. Thank you Ruta Sepetys for bringing the Baltic genocide to light, for making sure the death of 20 million people will not be forgotten.
Between Shades Of Gray is a heartbreaking tale unlike any other. This is a book that I will never ever forget and even now, a couple of days after finishing it, I'm still thinking of the horrors committed by the NKVD. This book is one that has definitely made a huge impact on me and has really warped my understanding of modern history. Why is the stories of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia more renowned? Considering that this story is virtually foreign to most of the world, what other events in history are unfamiliar to the general public? Whose stories have been forgotten by history? Between Shades Of Gray is a life-changing and thought-provoking book that is simply unforgettable.
This is a book (along side The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Night by Elie Wiesel) that everyone must read at least once in their life. I think that's imperative that we remember the Holocaust and the Baltic genocides so we can prevent horrific events like this from ever occurring again. (I know there are still genocides going on today, but educating people about them is the first step to avert future disasters like this.) Between Shades Of Gray is a book that should be read by people of all ages in schools, in homes, in libraries so that the world doesn't forget what happened to 20 million people. I truly believe that this book should become apart of curriculums internationally because this is one extremely important book.
Between Shades Of Gray features a multitude of characters, but they all share one thing in common. Sepetys perfectly shows not everyone is wholly good or evil, that we all have shades of goodness in us. Ruta Sepetys knows hows to create complex, developed characters that feel so real. The characters are extremely easy to empathize with their plight and I felt my heart breaking while reading it. My heart shattered from all of the plights that characters had to deal with and I even cried a bit at the end. This book is truly something else and I can't praise it enough!
Lina grows so much from the beginning of the novel to the heartbreaking conclusion. Lina is extremely naive and so innocent when the reader first meets her. It was terrifying to me to see Lina and Yonus so quickly lose their innocence and be faced with such a cruel, terrifying world. Their childhoods were essentially stripped from them along with everything they've ever known. Lina was forced to become a strong willed individual and to be tough, instead of being a normal teenager. Her character development throughout the novel is momentous and just so unfair. Why would the NKVD and Stalin commit such horrors to child and the elderly? I know I could be asking "Why" questions all day, but it's unthinkable how cruelly children were treated.
Between Shades Of Gray is an absolute must-read for readers of all ages. This novel is truly special and I never, ever will forget this poignant, moving story. No review can express how emotional this book really is and I commend Sepetys for resuscitating the story of the Baltic Genocide. Out of The Easy is definitely a book that I must read soon and I have no doubt that it will be phenomenal. Between Shades Of Gray is a simply mind-blowing book that will shatter your heart into a million pieces. ...more
Seen at Scott Reads It! Legend is one of all my time favorite books and so once I heard that my library had Prodigy had to go get it. I wasted no timeSeen at Scott Reads It! Legend is one of all my time favorite books and so once I heard that my library had Prodigy had to go get it. I wasted no time and I started almost immediately after getting Prodigy.
Prodigy is one emotional roller coaster ride that will leave you desperate for more. The 2nd installment in the Legend Trilogy is extremely fast-paced with cinematic action packed scenes. Marie Lu's writing ability is unparalleled . Once you start Legend or Prodigy, you'll forget about the world around you because you'll be so engaged. If you need to go to school that day, it doesn't matter because the Republic is at stake.
Day and June are perfect and they could do no wrong in my mind. I have such a strong emotional connection with the characters Lu created. Between Legend and the end of Prodigy I feel like June and Day have grown and matured so much. June and Day are
The romance isn't a a major component of Prodigy but it's very essential to the story. There is a love triangle but it didn't bother me at all. I actually really enjoyed the love triangle because it was complex and extremely developed. A perfect love triangle isn't just about which character you like better, it's about the stakes that come with each character. Anden was such an intriguing and interesting character to read about but the whole thing with him and June can't work out. Day and June are star-crossed lovers because they were destined to be together. Romance is usually the downfall of most YA novels for me but in Prodigy it's one of my favorite attributes.
From chapter one I was enthralled in the exciting but terrifying world of the Republic. There were tons of awesome action scenes in addition to the fantastic romantic scenes. The fighter jet scene was unadulterated awesome and it reminded me of the X-Wing scenes from Star Wars. Another scene that really stood out in my mind was of course the bath tub scene. I could rant all day about how much I loved Prodigy but I don't want to spoil a plot point by accident.
The ending was such an emotional cliff hanger and I couldn't stop bawling when I finished reading. I can count on one hand the number of times I have cried while reading a book. The only other time I remember crying while reading was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I was an emotional train wreck and all I could think about was how 2014 was way too far away.
You must read Prodigy! Prodigy is an absolutely perfect book and I highly recommend reading it. If there's anything I want you to get out of this post is that you should go to your closest library/bookstore and get Prodigy right now. Marie Lu is a literary prodigy and words can't express how much I loved Prodigy. ...more
See more of my reviews at my blog! I admit it, I have avoided writing a review for Clockwork Princess. I wasn't even sure I could write a coherent reSee more of my reviews at my blog! I admit it, I have avoided writing a review for Clockwork Princess. I wasn't even sure I could write a coherent review because this book made me so emotional. Yes, I cried around a thousand times while reading Clockwork Princess, I am not ashamed to admit it. There are no spoilers in this review for any of Cassandra Clare's books.
Immediately once I started Clockwork Princess, I couldn't stop reading. I was up late into the night reading this book because it was that spectacular. I have gotta say that this Cassandra Clare's best book to date. I have read and loved all of her books but none of her books have made me this emotional. (City of Lost Soul's conclusion is emotional but Clockwork Princess broke my heart a thousand times)
There were tons of memorable quotes in this book and I decided to put a post-it every single time there was quote I liked on a page. Needless to say my book was littered with post-its all over. (I had to stop using so many post-its because I started to run out of post-its so quickly). I'm going to post some of my favorite quotes: “You know that feeling,” she said, “when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing tight around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.” His blue eyes were dark with understanding — of course Will would understand — and she hurried on. “I feel now as if the same is happening, only not to characters on a page but to my own beloved friends and companions. I do not want to sit by while tragedy comes for us. I would turn it aside, only I struggle to discover how that might be done.”
"Heroes endure because we need them. Not for their own sakes."
"Our hearts they need a mirror, Tessa. We see our better selves in the eyes of those that love us."
"We are not our parents, Gabriel. We do not have to carry the burden of their choices or their sins."
"Do not regret too much you have made in the past...Only make the right ones in the future. We are ever capable of change and ever capable of being our better selves".
Those are my top five spoiler-free quotes.
Clockwork Princess is not about who Tessa falls in love with. It in a way it's Tessa's coming-of-age story because Tessa finally comes to terms with who she is as a person. Sure I loved the love triangle segment of this book but I also loved seeing Tessa evolve. Tessa isn't the same girl that we met in Clockwork Angel. Tessa is now much more comfortable in her own skin and she's alot more mature. Tessa is now one of my all-time favorite characters.
I swear I cried around a thousand or so times during this book. (I mentioned it before I thought I would repeat myself for emphasis). As far I remember, only 3 books have ever made me cry (The Book Thief, Prodigy, and now Clockwork Princess). I don't usually get so emotional while reading but I couldn't help myself. [image] I couldn't keep calm while reading because I am so emotionally attached to all the characters. I cried for characters I never really liked too much, that's how much of an emotional wreck I was. [image] I have already been told that it was "unmanly". Why is showing emotion considered "unmanly" to show emotion. Anyway I don't care what haters say because this is Clockwork Princess and I am never changing who I am. [image]
Anyway the more I read, the more I couldn't stop crying. I seriously need to get a grip on myself and the more I tried not to cry, I cried even more. This book will make an emotion-less zombie into a heart-broken fool who will cry a river. I wouldn't lie about that.
There's no way I can express my love for this book or Clare's book without getting all ranty. The writing in this book is simply superb and it's definitely her best yet. Never have I read a more perfect and fitting end to a series, everything is perfectly resolved. There's so many ways I could describe the ending of this book: powerful, emotional, touching, sweet, and so on. I had just had so many feelings while reading this book that there came a point where happy and sad were basically the same thing. I just wanted Tessa, Jem, and Will to be happy. [image]
You'd have to be heartless not to shed at least one tear while reading this book. You don't have to be ashamed of it! I think there needs to be a support group for this book because I was emotionally torn apart while reading this book. One quote from Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Princess perfectly sums up all my feelings for “One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.” and “You know that feeling,” she said, “when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing tight around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.” This one powerful and emotionally moving novel, I can't stress that enough.
There is so much going on Clockwork Princess yet the plot is executed wonderfully. I loved the whole plotline with Henry and Charlotte. The relationship between Charlotte and Henry was just so sweet and touching. Everything is tied up neatly at the end and anything you could think of is resolved. Basically I'm obsessed with Clockwork Princess and I can't say anything bad about this book.
If there's anything I want to come out of this review with, I want you to read Clockwork Princess. Cast aside, everything in your life but this book, nothing else matters. I promise you'll thank me later. There has never been a better love triangle ever written and there certainly has never been a love triangle executed this well. Clockwork Princess left me completely and utterly speechless. This book is just simply brilliant. ...more
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