Review: In Honor - Jessi Kirby

In Honor - Jessi Kirby
Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers - May 8, 2012
Reading level: Ages 14 and up

"Hours after her brother’s military funeral, Honor opens the last letter Finn ever sent. In her grief, she interprets his note as a final request and spontaneously decides to go to California to fulfill it."

"Honor gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen Rusty in ages, but it’s obvious he is as arrogant and stubborn as ever—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. Despite Honor’s better judgment, the two set off together on a voyage from Texas to California. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn’s memory—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?"

In Honor has been on my to-read list since last fall and it was worth the wait.  It was a great YA Contemporary with heartbreak, self discovery and closure. 

Plenty of reviewers have compared Rusty to Tim Riggins and the comparison is perfect.  Rusty is the Tim Riggins of the book world.  (If you haven't seen Friday Night Lights (the television show), you're missing out and need to watch it ASAP!)

The rode trip in "Paula" was the most enjoyable part of the book.  The situations Rusty and Honor became entangled in were realistic and entertaining.  Their relationship blossomed during the road trip and that was the main element of the book.  

Honor and Rusty were fantastic characters.  It was easy to understand their heartbreak and loved to see them move on and find closure together.  Even though Finn was gone, Kirby did a great job at making his character complete.  We got to know him well through his letter and Honor's memories.

The lack of romantic gestures was the only disappointment of In Honor.  There was only one kiss and while it was fitting, it would have been nice to see more romance between Honor and Rusty.

I loved In Honor and have read it twice since it's release.  I would recommend this book to YA Contemporary fans or a YA fan looking for a good read.  

PAGE'S RATING: 4.5/5

Review: Something Like Normal - Trish Doller

Something Like Normal - Trish Doller
Bloomsbury USA Childrens - June 19, 2012
Reading level: Ages 14 and up

"When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero."

Something Like Normal was realistic and captivating.  It was my first YA with a male POV.  I was hesitant about understanding a story with a male perspective but I was blown away.  I loved reading the story through Travis's eyes and through the eyes of a Marine. >

Travis is one of the most authentic narrators I have ever read.  I felt like I knew him.  I wanted to protect him from Paige and his father and tell Ryan to grow up.  His relationship with his mother was great.  I'm glad they were able to support each other.  Together they were able to overcome their problems and move on. 

I loved the relationship between Harper and Travis.  They fit together so well. They were both dealt with difficult situations but were able to find ground and move on.

It was great how Doller built the relationship between Travis and Charlie.  We were able to get to know Charlie in flashbacks and through meeting his family.  The dynamic between the two was beautiful and it was heartbreaking to see Travis deal with the loss of his best friend.

It's amazing how well Doller has captured these young Marines in this story.  I started watching the Generation Kill series for about the 10th time a couple of weeks ago and Charlie,  Moss and Kevlar said and did things that were exactly like the guys on GK.  

I didn't like not having closure to the relationship between Ryan and Travis.  Were they not on speaking terms at the end?  I wish there was resolution to their relationship.  

Something Like Normal was a fantastic debut.  Very well done, Trish Doller!  I can't wait for your next book.  Count me pre-ordered!

PAGE'S RATING: 5/5

Review: The Survival Kit - Donna Freitas

The Survival Kit - Donna Freitas
Farrar, Straus and Giroux - October 11, 2011
Reading level: Ages 14 and up

"When Rose’s mom dies, she leaves behind a brown paper bag labeled Rose’s Survival Kit. Inside the bag, Rose finds an iPod, with a to-be-determined playlist; a picture of peonies, for growing; a crystal heart, for loving; a paper star, for making a wish; and a paper kite, for letting go.

As Rose ponders the meaning of each item, she finds herself returning again and again to an unexpected source of comfort. Will is her family’s gardener, the school hockey star, and the only person who really understands what she’s going through. Can loss lead to love?"

The story follows Rose and how a survival kit left by her mother (a paper bag with an iPod, a picture of peonies, a crystal heart, a paper star, and a paper kite) helps her heal. She begins spending time with Will, who understands the loss of a parent, attending school hockey games with old friends, and really living her life again.

I loved the idea of the survival kit. Rose wouldn’t have healed properly without it. It was what kept Rose together when her entire life was crashing down.

I loved Will and Rose together. They complimented each other well, both moving on from tragedies. Their romance slowly progressed and made it even better when they finally did get together.

The situation with Rose and her family was realistic and heart breaking. Her father turned to alcohol and her brother was away at school. Even though her brother was away, he was still very much a part of Rose’s life. Always checking and watching over her. I loved how Freitas handled the situation with her father. You hated him for being a drunk and Rose having to take care of him but were able to understand his behavior a little bit at the same time. He should have gone to counseling though to deal with it. Alcohol doesn’t solve anyone’s problems.

The Survival Kit was an amazing read. It made me smile and nearly cry. I would recommend it to those who are fans of Contemporary YA.

PAGE'S RATING: 4.5/5

Review: Bittersweet - Sarah Ockler

Bittersweet - Sarah Ockler
Simon Pulse - January 3, 2012
Reading level: Ages 14 and up

"Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. "

"It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last….."

I loved Twenty Boy Summer and Fixing Delilah so I was looking forward to reading Bittersweet. Sarah Ockler has done contemporary young adult right again.

Bittersweet had cute romance, great friendships and hockey! The story follows Hudson, a former skater, while working at a diner baking cupcakes (delicious sounding ones at that) and caring for her brother, she makes time to help her school’s hockey team with their skating. While helping the hockey team, she grows close to both Josh and Will.

The secondary characters were just as great as the main characters. I loved reading about quirky Dani and the adorable Bug, whose personalities were both so big they could have easily been the main characters of novels of their own.

I didn’t like how Hudson left Bug alone on New Years Eve to go to a party or how she seemed around Will, going after him for a second time against Kara's wishes and even though it was obvious that Josh liked her.

Bittersweet was a sweet read. I would recommend it to Contemporary YA lovers looking for a good romance.

PAGE'S RATING: 4/5

Review: Under The Never Sky - Veronica Rossi

Under The Never Sky - Veronica Rossi
HarperCollins Publishers - January 3, 2012
Reading level: Ages 14 and up

"Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive."

If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers."

I normally read Young Adult Contemporary but when we signed up for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge I made it a point to read a new genre and I’m really glad I did.

The world Veronica Rossi created in Under The Never Sky was perfect.  I loved how there were the two societies (the Outsiders and the Dwellers) and how Aria and Perry came from two different worlds and were still able to find love.

The journey Aria and Perry went on to find/help their families was captivating and unpredictable.  Aria and Perry’s romance was the only predictable part.  It was obvious from first becoming allies that their partnership would blossom into romance.

I loved everything about this book, from their journey to the characters themselves.  Roar, Talon, Cinder, Aria, Perry, and Paisley were all incredible characters.  

By the end of the book, I was left wanting more.  I'll definitely add "Through The Ever Night" on my must-read of 2013.

Veronica Rossi deserves a round of applause for her superb first book.

PAGE'S RATING: 4.5/5

Review: The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
Dutton Juvenile - January 10, 2012
Reading level: Ages 14 and up

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love."

 One statement I kept repeating on Twitter was 'the story is so much different when you're a sick kid reading about a sick kid.' Technically I'm not a sick kid anymore, I'm an adult. And I don't have cancer I have lupus.

I've been a fan of John Green for years now, his writing is easy to get lost in and his stories are always deep and leave a lasting impression. Usually I will find myself in deep thought and questioning every aspect of my life when finishing a book by him.

However when I heard that John was writing a book where the main character had cancer, I foolishly questioned his ability to write something like that. After all as far as we know John has never himself been on the fence between life and death like that. I get really defensive of the subject, everyone wants to cash in on a tearjerker.

I'm glad to report John did not let his fans down.

Hazel and Augustus are brought to life by John's words so much in fact that I joked on Twitter about how I was planning on taking him to court because a lot of the things in the novel I've said myself, one way or another.

Following John's true nature heartache, adventure and love. And like always questions are all provided from the first page for instance: Augustus the devilishly handsome new guy cannot stop staring at Hazel, is it because she's lugging around an oxygen tank?

While this was an amazing book I cannot say it won out as my favorite John Green novel. I felt that it lacked certain elements of emotion for me, I just read the novel as I would any other book. Maybe because I've already been exposed to the harsh reality that is the medical world--who knows. But in the end I did feel as if it were missing a key ingredient.

With all of that being said, I would totally suggest this book to anyone. I do hope that the book can find a home with other sick kids, it's something that needs to be read. It's something that made me feel less alone in this gigantic mess of a web that we call Earth.

PLOT'S RATING: 4/5
SPOILER: I used my Make-A-Wish on a shopping spree. ;)