Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

Prisoner B-3087, by Alan Gratz
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, War
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Survive. At any cost.
10 concentration camps.
10 different places where you are starved, tortured, and worked mercilessly.
It's something no one could imagine surviving.
But it is what Yanek Gruener has to face.
As a Jewish boy in 1930s Poland, Yanek is at the mercy of the Nazis who have taken over. Everything he has, and everyone he loves, have been snatched brutally from him. And then Yanek himself is taken prisoner -- his arm tattooed with the words PRISONER B-3087.
He is forced from one nightmarish concentration camp to another, as World War II rages all around him. He encounters evil he could have never imagined, but also sees surprising glimpses of hope amid the horror. He just barely escapes death, only to confront it again seconds later.
Can Yanek make it through the terror without losing his hope, his will -- and, most of all, his sense of who he really is inside?
Based on an astonishing true story.

Review:

World War II has definitely changed the way we look at the world and reality today. It has killed hundreds of thousands of poor people who didn't do anything wrong and were just standing up for their religions and living their lives. Yanek's story was touching and will stay in mine, and many other young and old, people's hearts. 

This is the type of story that makes you realize how many good books are out there today. This may be fiction, but it is based on a true story, and has a deep meaning to it. It made me have tears in my eyes, and I almost couldn't have wished for a better faithful story. 

Yanek was an amazing character. He didn't know what he was capable of, but he had so much strength in him. He made me so... tearful and made me realize that the war was so bad. His "words" were so joyful even when the times were tough. The concentration camps were horrible and his thoughts and words, just like many World War II protagonists in books were absolutely unstoppable.

I loved this book so much. It means so much to me to have read such a beautiful book like this. 

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

The Lost Girl, by Sangu Mandanna
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Eva's life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. She was made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her "other," if she ever died. Eva spends every day studying that girl from far away, learning what Amarra does, what she eats, what it's like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.
But sixteen years of studying never prepared her for this.
Now she must abandon everything and everyone she's ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she's forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.
What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.
From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself.

Review:

• For a real long time, I've been wanting to read a book like this! Clones and new bodies are the best concepts to read about, and when I first saw this book, I realized that I needed it ASAP.
• To tell you the truth, this book was seriously amazing. The plot was rebellious and so good. I was hardly ever bored, and the characters were so strong.
• I personally loved Eva as a character/protagonist. She was a wild child who had some humour and intelligence in her as well. Readers can easily relate to her through their own personal troubles, and we eventually realize how hard it must be to be in her own situation, where she is not described as a person. She was "just an echo" of Amarra.
• I was also very pleased with the passionate romance that Eva and Sean had. Sean was just someone any teenage girl would wish for! I loved him!
• Overall, I was very pleased with this novel. Many books don't take place in modern India, so this is a very new fresh setting. I am looking forward to more from Sangu Mandanna.

Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara

Lovely, Dark and Deep, by Amy McNamara
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Rating: 4/5 stars













Review:

• Although this was a tragic book, I felt like it was so refreshing. It was a really quick, light read and at the same time, it was so good. At points, it was so sad, but it made me smile to see the way the people dealt with things. I was so surprised with the ending, but I still kind of wanted more from the author and the beautiful story she has created.
• The problem I had was that the plot was too slow-paced. Nothing really was happening. The protagonist was so depressed at times, I wanted to throw the book out the window. (kinda) I did understand what she was going through, but I felt like she was whining a lot.
• This was a really beautiful strong deep novel, just like its title states. It made me laugh and smile many times and it made me think about life for a while. 

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Glimmer, by Phoebe Kitanidis
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Rating: 4/5 stars

When Marshall King and Elyse Alton suddenly wake up tangled in each other's arms with zero memory of how they got there or even who they are, it's the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.
Terrified by their amnesia, Marshall and Elyse make a pact to work together to find the answers that could restore their missing memories. As they piece together clues about their lives, they discover that they're in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls. Everyone seems happy there, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town's perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall's mom, not the hidden violence in Elyse's family, not even the day-to-day anguish of being a high schooler.
Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marshall and Elyse fall into an intense relationship founded on their mutual quest for truth. But the secrets they're trying to uncover could be the death of this budding love affair—and of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Review:

• Yet again, another amnesia-concept book! Woot woot! Amnesia is one of my favourite topics out there—it's just so interesting and after reading two amnesia-related books so far, I am all but unimpressed!
• This plot was so nerve-wracking. Every minute I was biting my nails to the ends! It. Was. So. Good. Period. 
• I was really upset with the characters and the ending. I felt like Marshall and Elyse weren't meant to be with each other, they weren't alike in any way and they had total different personalities. I felt like their love was fake the entire time, although I know that it was real. 
• The ending was the opposite of how I wish it would've ended. There is no sequel to this book, so why make a predictable ending? Something with surprises and suspense is the key to a bookworm's heart... just saying.
• I did like this book, don't get me wrong. At times it was really cute and powerful, but at others, I wanted more, and more details about the whole other side of the story.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

Twisted, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 1.5/5 stars

High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the kind of guy who faded into the background—average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school, and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it, he stands out like you wouldn’t believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just so happens to be his father’s boss’s daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy—and Tyler’s secret crush. And that sets off a string of events and changes that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world.
In Twisted, the acclaimed Laurie Halse Anderson tackles a very controversial subject: what it means to be a man today. Fans and new readers alike will be captured by Tyler’s pitch perfect, funny voice, the surprising narrative arc, and the thoughtful moral dilemmas that are at the heart of all of the author’s award-winning, widely read work.

Review:

• I've been wanting to buy Laurie Halse Anderson's new novel, The Impossible Knife of Memory, but now, I'm second-guessing my decision. Twisted was a real disaster compared to Speak and Wintergirls, the first two books by Laurie that I've ever read.
• I found that there was no concept going on here. It was just a plain contemporary where Tyler's life was going on. He wanted Bethany to like him, that's basically it. 
• I didn't finish this book. I read about three-quarters of it, then put it down because I realized that I was wasting my time. I really didn't like it!
• In the beginning, it wasn't bad. It kind of was getting somewhere, but then by the near middle, it didn't get anywhere, except to my angry mind. Tyler was a good character. He was likeable and had some sort of sense of direction in him. He knew what he was doing even at the roughest times. I didn't find him and Bethany to be a good match, someone like Melinda from Speak would be his perfect match, in my eyes. 
• I am so so so disappointed in this book. I figured that it would also be amazing just like the author's other books, hopefully it's only this one and the rest are spectacular just like the were in the beginning. 

The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan

The Weight of Water, by Sarah Crossan
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance

Armed with a suitcase and an old laundry bag filled with clothes, Kasienka and her mother head for England. Life is lonely for Kasienka. At home her mother's heart is breaking and at school friends are scarce. But when someone special swims into her life, Kasienka learns that there might be more than one way for her to stay afloat. The Weight of Water is a startlingly original piece of fiction; most simply a brilliant coming of age story, it also tackles the alienation experienced by many young immigrants. Moving, unsentimental and utterly page-turning, we meet and share the experiences of a remarkable girl who shows us how quiet courage prevails.

Review:

•  As Cassie is, I am Polish. Our heritage is also a reason why I wanted to pick up this book, especially because you don't find a lot of Polish protagonists in books these days, except in those featuring the Holocaust. 
• Free-verse poetry is seriously gorgeous. Whenever a book is written through poetry, I just find it so remarkable because that's extra the amount of work for the author. You need to make sure it makes sense and you'll need to count the amount of verses and whatsoever, adding to the fact that the story needs to follow your idea in mind.
• I loved this book! Cassie and I are very alike in many ways, we both love to swim and have close deep relationships with our moms. Cassie had a definite wild personality, and she was very intelligent with her thoughts and actions, adding to her humorous side. 
• The romance wasn't too crazy in this book, but it was bittersweet and soft. I recommend this for anyone willing to read a coming-of-age novel, with a little bit of sass and twists into it.

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepard

Her Dark Curiosity, by Megan Shepard
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery/Thriller/Mystery
Rating: 4/5 stars

To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.
Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.
As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.
As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.
With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves.

Review:

• I have to admit, the first book was much better. There was more drama and romance. This was basically all about the mystery of Edward. 
• He is really psychotic, I have to admit. I loved him in the first book, but I didn't find him to be my favourite male in this one, not at all. He kept me wondering, does he really love Juliet? Montgomery was kind of sneaky too, even though he had a really big soft side, which I thanked him for. But, I didn't see any romance or love in this one at all. Juliet didn't like any of them, and Montgomery liked her but she didn't show him that she liked him back. The big shocker towards the end of the book was weird... I didn't know how the characters would react.
• Juliet is much more grown up in this book. There is no mystery to her life anymore, and she knows everything that is happening. But, she was much more kick-ass in this one. 
• I have to admit that some points were dull, and I got bored a few times, but I still overall enjoyed the game the author played with us here.
• Team... Montgomery? I guess... MORE STRONGER ROMANCE PLEASE AND LESS UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES AND I'm all good...

Five Summers by Una LaMarche

Five Summers,  by Una LaMarche
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Chick-lit
Rating: 4/5 stars

Four best friends, five summers of camp memories. 
The summer we were nine: Emma was branded “Skylar’s friend Emma” by the infamous Adam Loring...The summer we were ten: Maddie realized she was too far into her lies to think about telling the truth...The summer we were eleven: Johanna totally freaked out during her first game of Spin the Bottle...The summer we were twelve: Skylar’s love letters from her boyfriend back home were exciting to all of us—except Skylar...Our last summer together: Emma and Adam almost kissed. Jo found out Maddie’s secret. Skylar did something unthinkable... and whether we knew it then or not, five summers of friendship began to fall apart. 
Three years after the fateful last night of camp, the four of us are coming back to camp for reunion weekend—and for a second chance. Bittersweet, funny, and achingly honest, Five Summers is a story of friendship, love, and growing up that is perfect for fans of Anne Brashares and Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.

Review:

• The last time I've read a chick-lit book about summer camp was when I was 11, so it's been a while. I love these type of books! The romance is absolutely adorable, and whatever happens in the camp, stays in the camp. 
• This has definitely showed us how important friendship really is. Johanna, Maddie, Emma and Skylar were all amazing characters. I had my favourite, Jo, but the book obviously would be nothing without them. This was so girly and I loved each and every one of their stories and secrets! The whole book was bittersweet!
• There was so much drama, I loved it! You will never get bored in this book because its absolutely sweet and the perfect summer read. There really was no plot twists, so that's what I wish that would be added or changed. 
• The romance wasn't anything too special, but it was pretty good. I wouldn't say that the romance was the biggest thing that everyone relied on, but it was there. EMMA + ADAM FOR LIFE!
• I love the way Una LaMarche wrote everything, it was so simplistic and soothing. I just feel like I need more, I almost didn't want it to end!

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha

Ripper, by Stefan Petrucha
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery/Thriller/Murder
Rating: 2/5 stars

Panic grips the city! There is a killer loose in New York City, and Carver Young is the only one who sees the startling connection between the recent string of murders and the most famous serial killer in history: Jack the Ripper. Time is winding down until the killer claims another victim, but Carver soon sees that, to The Ripper, this is all a game that he may be destined to lose.

Review:

• I don't know if it's just me, but I didn't seem to find this book enjoyable. I really like mystery stories, but nothing hardcore. I don't like the whole fact of big-shot detectives trying to solve the case, especially in olden times. But, Jack the Ripper really does interest me, and I remember enjoying The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson, which had a similar idea.
• The plot/concept was okay. The story built up pretty quickly and got straight to the point, but now when I think about it, the olden times setting probably ticked me off. I really prefer futuristic times, but obviously Jack the Ripper was living in the 19th century, so it makes sense. But, it got really boring at points and the middle to the end basically sucked, I'm not going to lie. Nothing was happening! 
• I really didn't like the characters. Carver was... absurd and peculiar. He wasn't normal, that's for sure but he seemed too interested and obsessed with things. I don't really like characters/protagonists like that, so I better stay away from these types of books. 
• I hate getting bored in books, like that's my pet peeve. Once I get bored from 70-100 pages, I decide that it's not a good book and I don't recommend it. That's exactly what I'm thinking about this one.

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic,  by Lauren Oliver
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 2/5 stars

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Review:

• Please note that this is a contemporary fiction novel. This is no whatsoever a dystopian or science-fiction romance. I didn't read the summary clearly and thought that I was in for a dystopian read. Hah, silly me.
• Also, please note that this isn't anything like Lauren Oliver's other novels. This is her first contemporary novel, and I feel that she did a bad job writing it. It missed so much, and the characters sucked, as well as the plot.
• We normally never get to read books about games and illegal stuff that teenagers perform. Panic is probably the first of its kind that I've ever touched and I feel that it had a beautiful concept, don't get me wrong. I love the whole idea. You never get to see this happen in reality even though this is a contemporary novel. Winning 60 grand can change everyone's life in too many different situations, and Lauren Oliver has definitely created a book that to be able to understand fully, you must think outside the box to find the real meaning of the whole story.
• I like books that cause me to think a lot, and this was one of the best that I've read in that case. 
• Now, the complaining and blabbing. The characters were absolutely horrible. I hated the protagonists, Heather and Dodge. Even though the author wanted some sort of romance between them, I didn't see any resemblance or connections. They were just dull people who tried to be superior and heroic, but that would never happen anyways. I didn't see any importance in the supporting characters like Nat, at all, so don't get me started on them.
• The book was so good in the beginning. It was so mysterious, but I did have a problem because I didn't know anything about where they were and what the game was and why they decided to play it. We just found out about their families and what the previous winners of the game decided to use the $ for.
• Afterwards, it slowly got worse. The author put too many complications at once and I got confused. What was the point of this fiasco? I don't really know.
• I can already tell that this book won't be a bestseller, and if it is, people will regret picking it up, except for the deep story inside.