The Young Adult Section!

**I figured out the whole picture thing. I can put up pictures of the books, but it is far more complicated to do than is worth it. So, if you want to see a picture of the book, just google it, and there you go!

Lately, I seem to have been reading quite a few books from the Young Adult section at the library! I have really enjoyed them.

Unwind
by: Neal Shusterman
read in: August 2010 REALLY LIKED 9
Sci/fi. The book takes place way in the future when there is no more abortion, but at 13 yrs old parents can consent to have their child "unwound"! All would be better if the child used its parts on others than be whole…that is the premise. 3 kids run away; story is about their life. Choices, forgiveness, going too far in any direction. I really liked it! YA Fiction



Specials
by: Scott Westerfeld
read: August 2010 ok – 4-5ish
Sci/fi series…The series starts with #1 uglies, #2 pretties then #3 specials. I really liked the 1st two. This one, not so much. I tried to get into it, it never really got good. By the end I was very bothered by the fact that in this “time” families are of no consequence; they don’t exist. YA fiction

In The Name of Honor
by: Richard North Patterson
read: August 2010
I give it a 9 – till the end; then it gets a little creepy
I would recommend it. I liked 9/10ths of it! Just know that the twist at the end was a bit objectionable to me.
Drama, murder, Iraq war, courtroom, family drama. I really liked it, GREAT writing. Man goes to war, comes home, shoots brother in law, court martial. Great lawyer, sister involved. What bugged me: sex meant nothing, just a shake of the hand – that doesn’t really make people happy! The end was creepy where there was quite a twist. I think I would recommend it. Sometimes we read books and are very grateful for our own morals and values. We see the value in having higher standards.

Stolen
by: Lucy Christopher
read: August 2010 9 REALLY LIKED!
Cant’ give it a 10 because the book made me want to want an attraction where I shouldn’t. I wanted the person kidnapped to be with her kidnapper. He seemed so nice and caring, in real life that is NOT how it is, but I did really like the book. Enjoyed how it was written. Girl was kidnapped to Australia from a Bangkok airport. Fascinating story! It is written like a letter to her kidnapper. It's a fast read, so READ IT!!
YA fiction

A Run of Mostly OK books, some BAD; Some I Really ENJOYED!

SADLY, I cannot seem to add pictures to this blog post!! As you can see, I have added pictures quite a lot. I KNOW it is better to see the book, then you can decide if you want to read it! What's the deal with BLOGGER??

Anyway, here are the books I've read. No pictures. Just google for the pictures...so sad:

Gardens of Water
by: Alan Drew
Finished: June 2010
fine-ish 6
Muslim family in turkey deals with terrible earthquake in 1999…have dealings with an American family living there…problems with their religion. Interesting only to learn about the Muslim religion.

Things That Keep Us Here
by: Carla Buckley
Finished: June 2010
fine 6-7
Family living in Ohio deals with a terrible flu outbreak. There is quarantine; people are crazy, no law. Set a few years in the future. Before breakout, husband wants a divorce. Difficult times. By the end, husband & wife reunite.

Perfection
by: Julie Metz
Finished: June 2010
awful 3 NF
Husband dies; wife eventually fines out he is a habitual cheater; she is angry, wants to know all. The book is filled with awful, hatred, upset. Who wants to read that? Did not/could not finish

Before You Know Kindness
by: Chris Bohjalian
Finished: June 2010
a drag 3 can’t even remember
After half, skimmed…2 books later, can’t even remember what it was about
One week later, I remember: a animals rights guy is accidentally shot by his daughter. Family drama…strong mother, daughter married to animal rights guy, son married to a woman. Cousins get together for weeks in the summer.

Crank
by: Ellen Hopkins
Finished: June 2010
LOVED 9 different; interesting
Daughter visits missing father; while there meets boy who shows her meth amphetamine…the monster, insight into teenage mind and choices, drugs, lieing, quick read; recommend to mothers.

Thirteen Reasons Why
by: Jay Asher
finished June 2010 3 whinny
Girl commits suicide; sends tapes to 12 people that did her wrong. Girl was whinny and self centered and a little loose. Not enjoyable.

The Narrows
by: Michael Connelly
finished: June 2010 7 pretty good
Mystery; guy tries to solve a murder; FBI girl tries to solve a murder. Serial killer; Ex-FBI agent. I gave it a 7 because there is a small section of writing that didn’t need to be there and it has bugged me. Other than that I really enjoyed the book.

61 Hours
by: Lee Child
finished: June 2010
8 Liked
Didn’t understand the constant countdown. Nice try. Good, “jack reacher” novel

A Plague of Secrets
by: John Lescroart
finished: July 2010
9 Enjoyed!
Good Dismas Hardy book. Nice story. I really like this author. Lawyer; detective.

Treasure Hunt
by: John Lescroart
Finished: July 2010
8 fine
Wyatt hunt story…ok….mickey dade private detective story..just ok, hardly remember

Glass
by: Ellen Hopkins
finished: July 2010
LIKED 9 different interesting
2nd in series of Crank…continued story….very good…sad

Burned
by: Ellen Hopkins
Finished: July 2010
No frustrating -1
@mormon girl, abused by father, bad family although religious; hated the premise and the telling. Quit reading, just skimmed; a big yuck.

The Second Short life of Bree Tanner
by: Stephenie Meyers
Finished: July 2010
REALLY LIKED 9
Very short story about one of the “new” vampires from the Eclipse book which will make me re-read Eclipse and the last Breaking Dawn. I enjoyed the re-reads too.

Committed
by: Elizabeth Gilbert
Finished: July 2010
Liked 8-9
2nd next to Eat, Pray, Love. She marries…her thoughts. Some stuff too boring; skimmed, other parts I enjoyed and really read.

Peeps
by: Scott Westerfeld
Finished: August 2010
Ok, 5
O picked up this book because I really enjoyed another series of his....Uglies, Pretties (I have Specials to read...upcoming!) This one was Sci fi; vampires; cats, rats, virus, wished it was better.

Heart of the Matter
by: Emily Giffin
Finished: August2010
5 or 9
Sad/frustrating story of 7 yr. marriage that falls apart…affair. He is a doctor, he wants to help and rescue a little burned boy & his mother. He lets himself fall for her. They both know it is wrong. In the end there is a sweet forgiveness, a true sense of doing wrong and wanting to make things right.

5 Fabulous Books!

Every Last One
by Anna Quindlen

So well written! I loved this. It is somewhat along the lines of Mom's favorite "One True Thing". It is the story of a mother of 3 teenage children. All different, with different personalities and needs. This is how the mother (who is married) deals this motherhood and all her responsibilities.

It is a REAL thinker! It does deal with death. I did enjoy all her thoughts. I slurped this one up. If you read it, let me know!!





Girl in Translation
by: Jean Kwok

First time author. EXCELLENT book!
A Chinese mother and her 11 year old daughter come to America with the help of the mother's sister. She sets them up in an awful apartment; in her sweatshop of a job with awful conditions; but they learn how to survive and do well. It is a story of determination, courage, getting through. Really great.

Now go sign up in the library for it!!


Whiter Than Snow
by: Sandra Dallas

I liked this. It is not as good as the others. The story is set in the 1920's, a mining, small town. Everybody has secrets and parts of their lives they don't share. There is an avalanche and it is interesting to see how you can let a devastating experience control how you react. What would you do?

I liked getting to know the people in this town.


Secrets of Eden
by: Chris Bohjalian

I have read several of his books. They are always well written; if not a little odd.
This story is about a man who becomes a priest; works in a town; tries to help the people.

There is one woman who is being beaten by her husband. No one really knows. He tries to help.

The story is told from 3 different perspectives: The Priest, The Attorney that will prosecute and The daughter of the woman who is beaten.

It's a bit of a dark story, but I like how he writes.


The Art of Racing In The Rain
by: Garth Stein

I loved this book and I hardly like dogs.

This book is told from the perspective of the dog! The man loves the dog, the man gets married, they have a baby. The man wants to be a race car driver; it's hard and does not always work out.

As in real life, things do not always go the way we plan, things happen, difficult things and it is impressive how the man deals with adversity.

It's a good book. Hang on. Keep your box of tissues by your side.

5 More Books

The Happiness Project

by: Gretchen Rubin

Non-fiction! I LOVED this book. Hope to read it again. Loved her ideas, loved how she writes! VERY good. I did keep a dictionary by me as I read to really get the definition of her words. Loved it!

The Postmistress

by: Sarah Blake

Could have been better! Good idea; story was just ok, hardly captivating; almost forgot I read it....IF I remember, it is a story of WW2 - the postmistress kept a letter...there was a man and wife; the man decided to go and fight/help the war effort...really, I wished it was better.

Eat, Pray, Love

by: Elizabeth Gilbert

Really!! I LOVED this book! I read parts aloud to my mother. This woman goes through a terrible divorce. She is a writer. She writes about her recovery. She goes to Italy...eats...then to India to an ashram (?) to pray. I believe she lives there for 4 months. She encounters many interesting people. Then she goes to Bali. I really liked this book. If you read it, PLEASE talk to me about it!!!

The School of Essential Ingredients

by: Erica Bauermeister

I enjoyed this book too! What a nice run of good books for me. This is about a girl that has a hard mother. A mother that was not emotionally there; she was physically there, but not really. The girl tried to reach her mother through cooking. She grows up to have a restaurant and then gives cooking classes. The book talks a lot about the people she teaches in her class; what they are going through. I enjoyed it! Please read it!!

Born to Run

by: Christopher McDougall

I read this book by assignment from my sister; was a bit sceptical of it, but I really enjoyed it...and it's a non-fiction. Very fascinating! Great story of one man's journey of running. There are some long boring parts...just skip thoughs. But really not too many. I recommend!! After I read this book I ran a mile barefoot. It was great!

Not Without Hope

Not Without Hope
by: Nick Schuyler

True story: last year in February, 4 friends, two of them being professional NFL players, went out deep sea fishing 70 miles off the Florida coast. The anchor of the boat got stuck, they capsized the boat, a ferocious storm came, only one survived.

An amazing story. You really wish by the end it would have a different ending, but it is what it is. I liked it. Can't say I enjoyed it, but it was interesting; sad. I can't enjoy hearing the demise of real people. I DO recommend reading the book. It gives you a real appreciation of the ocean and boat and water safety! Really, read it!

One Amazing Thing

One amazing Thing

by: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Interesting story of nine people in the Indian Consulate, trapped by an earthquake. While they wait to be rescued, one person suggests that they each tell their "one amazing thing". Every one has one in their life.

It is an interesting way to hear people's stories. Interesting what we are willing to tell strangers.

I liked it.

It was a quick read.

The First Rule

The First Rule

by: Robert Crais

Has the usual protagonist Joe Pike.

A friend from his past is murdered along with his family.

Joe wants to solve this mystery.

Russian Mob; kidnapped baby; ruthless people; usual Joe Pike novel.

I liked it. Escape. Easy read.

Hawaii Reads!

The books that I read in Hawaii....since that's all I did, I did get to read a few books; here are my thoughts:

Heart's Blood
by: Juliet Marillier

Such a good story; kind of a re-telling of Beauty & the Beast.
Girl runs away from a bad situation, up a mountain to the castle. She is hired for the summer to do some reading and writing.

It is a very good story; nicely told. I got into it right away. I highly recommend! Get it and read it!

Little Bee
by: Chris Cleave

This story is told from 2 different perspectives. One from an African girl, the other from a 30 year old NY woman. These two people cross paths and their lives are never the same. It is a great story. I REALLY liked the perspective (and writing of the NY woman).

Read this!

The Covenant
by: Beverly Lewis

This one is just ok. I ended up liking it, but I had to read it in a very unconventional way. The author was taking too long to get anywhere; driving me crazy. I had read maybe the first 100 - 150 pages of the book; then I skipped to the end! I did. I started reading from the last page. I liked that, so I read the next to the last page, then the next, I did that for quite some time, then I went back to where I originally left off and met myself. I liked it better that way. I really wanted to like it because it is a series. I don't know if I will read anymore. I guess my probability is 65%.

The story: Amish family. Girls getting ready for marriage age; time to be baptised in the church; what boys do they like; they don't like the ones their father picked out.


Listen
by: Rene Gutteridge

I have read several of her other books. They were fine. Boo, I really liked. This one has a great idea for a story, I just didn't like her telling. In fact I didn't finish it. The story is about a religious town that gets caught up in gossip. Doing it, spreading it, listening to it. It could have been so good. It wasn't. Read it at your own risk.

Nothing To Lose

Nothing To Lose

by: Lee Child

All his books are with the protagonist Jack Reacher.

This is my 5th one to read. Maybe I am on JR overload.

I do very much recommend his books. I enjoy them...just not all at one.

This time Jack wanders into 2 towns in Colorado; Despair and Hope. They throw him out of Despair, he goes to Hope, finds a lovely woman cop who helps him find out with the deal is with Despair and why they don't like strangers.

Lots of stuff happens. I DO really like all the things Jack Reacher notices; he is very literal. Go ahead, pick this book up and read it!

21 Books Read Since OCT(!) 2009

The Hunger Games & Catching Fire
by: Suzanne Collins



finished: Sept & Dec 2009 VERY good 9

Future; like the lottery, kids have to survive to the last to live.













Keys to the Kingdom
by: Cronin
Finished: oct 09 didn’t finish, too flat-line

Mom loved this; it went no where for me, priest’s life

31 hours

by: Masha Hamilton

Finished: oct 09 Interesting 7-8 ½
Mother has a sense her son (21) is in trouble; needs help; boy is with & helping terrorist; book has no real ending…you decide!

June Bug

by: Chris Fabry

Finished: oct 09

A re-telling of Les Miserables! It is an interesting story, good read. Author did a good job. It makes you think. I recommend!

An echo In The bone

by: Diana Gabaldon

Finished: oct 09

I LOVE this series. This particular book was a little hard to get into, but once I did, I had a hard time putting it down. THEN, I had to go back and re-read the whole series. It was VERY enjoyable. Really good. If you haven't read these books, start with the first....Outlander.

Outlander Diana Gabaldon oct 09
Dragonfly in Amber Diana Gabaldon nov 09
Voyager Diana Gabaldon nov 09
Drums of autumn Diana Gabaldon dec 09
The Fiery Cross Diana Gabaldon dec 09
A breathe of Snow & Ashes Gabaldon Feb 10

Rainwater

by: Sandra Brown

Finished: Dec 09 Liked! 8-9
1940’s? woman runs boarding house, autistic child, love, quick read

Fearful Symmetry

by: Audrey Niffenegger

Finished: Dec 09 can’t tell..4-8

Beginning ok, middle hard, end fantastic. Death, spirits, love, OCD, graveyard, twins

Sundays at Tiffany’s

by: James Patterson

finished: Dec 09 fine 6-7

Quick read..24 hrs…imaginary friend, sad girl, frustrated woman, she sees her old imaginary friend; falls in love

Band of Brothers

by: Stephen E. Ambrose

Started: Jan 2010

Christopher recommenced this. He loved it. I thought it interesting, in a text book kind of way. I liked what I read, but I was in the middle of the Outlander series and I just couldn't make myself read this instead. It is still on my nightstand. I will read some more of it. WW2. Makes you appreciate what those men and women in the armed services do for us!

True Colors

by: Kristen Hannah

finished: Jan 10 too typical romance..4-5

Read to @ pg. 150. skipped ahead, ranch, sisters, love, bad love, trials, happy ending

The Enemy

by: Lee Childs

finished: can't remember 9 really enjoyed

Jack Reacher; france, mother dies, brother, murder on base, N. Carolina

Gone Tomorrow

by: Lee Childs

finished: Jan 10 9

really enjoyed; fast read
Jack reacher; NY, subway suicide, al queda, bad people

The Killing Floor

by: Lee Childs

finished: Jan 10 9 really enjoyed; fast read

Jack reacher; wanderer, stops in GA, arrested for murder, didn’t commit, helped solve; corrupt town

Die Trying

by: Lee Childs

finished: Jan 10

Fine, not as great as the others. Need a Jack Reacher break

This one was set in Montana with a bunch of wack-o-politicals that wanted to have their own country. Kerry enjoyed it.

Heir To SevenWaters

by Juliet Marillier

So Good! 4th in the Series. First is Daughter of the Forest.

Can't really describe it.

A tale of long ago. Family lives in the forest; there are fair folk, strong family bonds, love, long heritage. Fantasy. Great story.