Tag Archive for: 4 Stars

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Crossed

CrossedTitle: Crossed
Author: Ally Condie
Series: Matched #2
Genre: Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult
Spice: 0.5 / 5
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 367
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

Also in this series: Matched, Reached
My Thoughts

Just like with MATCHED, I really enjoyed reading CROSSED. I love Ally’s writing style. It’s so poetic, beautiful, descriptive, and concise. The descriptions of the setting were so vivid. I could actually imagine being in Southern Utah, her inspiration for the setting. And, even though her writing doesn’t lend to a fast-paced or action-packed story like other dystopian novels, I think her story is much more thought-provoking, which lends to more intriguing discussions and thoughts about oppressive governments.

While the previous book was told only from Cassia’s POV, this one was told from both hers and Ky’s. (It has me wondering whether we’ll get Xander’s POV in the next one.) I loved getting inside of Ky’s head, getting to know him better. He’s so much deeper than I had already gathered from only Cassia’s view of him. It was also nice to learn what he really thought of Cassia. And, at the same time, knowing his thoughts of Cassia is more heartbreaking since she’s still uncertain about Xander.

I don’t want to wait for the third book. I want to know who Cassia chooses and what happens to the Society and everyone involved now. Needless to say, I’ll be anxiously awaiting for the third book’s release next year.

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Uncommon Criminals

Uncommon CriminalsTitle: Uncommon Criminals
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society #2
Genre: Romance, Thriller, Young Adult
Spice: 0.5 / 5
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 298
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

Also in this series: Heist Society, Perfect Scoundrels
My Thoughts

Just like HEIST SOCIETY, UNCOMMON CRIMINALS was a lot of fun to read. I actually enjoyed it more than the first book because I knew the characters so I was more invested in them this time around. I still love that these stories aren’t written in first person. I loved the insight into the story that the third-person narrative gave. I loved knowing what some of the minor characters were thinking.

I felt like Kat grew a lot in this story. In the first one, she was plummeted back into the world she so desperately wanted to leave. In this one, she had a purpose. She was trying to right the wrongs from the past by returning art pieces that were stolen during World War II back to their rightful owners. I loved that by the time the story ended, she realized how important her friends, especially Hale, and family are to her.

The lack of back story into Hale’s character bothered me a little bit in the previous story, but it didn’t in this story. I found it kind of intriguing. I still want to know more about him, but I’m okay waiting for whatever tidbits Carter decides to reveal in each novel.

I’m really excited with the direction and potential of this series. There’s so much Carter can do. I can’t wait to see what comes of Kat and Hale’s relationship. I do hope we don’t have to wait for too many books before we get to enjoy seeing them together romantically.

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Heist Society

Heist SocietyTitle: Heist Society
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society #1
Genre: Romance, Thriller, Young Adult
Spice: 0.5 / 5
Format: Hard Cover
Pages: 287
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

Also in this series: Uncommon Criminals, Perfect Scoundrels
My Thoughts

HEIST SOCIETY was a lot of fun to read. It was light and quick. I loved that it wasn’t written in first person. Even though the story primarily focuses on Kat, the third-person narrative allows the reader a lot of insight into the story outside of Kat. I liked being able to see almost everything involved in the planning of the heist and not just what Kat was doing or thinking.

I thought it was a lot of fun to be a part of the family, a family who had orchestrated heists for generations. Although the main characters were on the other side of the law, it was fun to see the difference between them and the real “bad” guy. Kat only wanted to help her dad and return art pieces to their rightful owners. The bad guy, Arturo Taccone, on the other hand, wanted the items for himself and would do anything to get them.

My only complaint was the lack of backstory for some of the characters. At a signing in my hometown, Carter said she likes to get down to business and not bore her readers with all the nitty gritty details. While I appreciated the lack of long, drawn out impertinent descriptions, I still wanted to know more about the characters, especially Hale. I really hope we get to know him better and that there’s a little more romance in future novels.

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Across The Universe

Across The UniverseTitle: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Across the Universe #1
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: Kindle
Pages: 416
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:

My Thoughts

I quickly fell in love with the world Revis created in ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. Not so much the dystopian aspect of it, but the overall creativity and story potential. It was so unique and interesting. 

I loved the characters. Amy was a great heroine, although she felt very young at times because she called her parents “momma” and “daddy.” I especially loved Elder and I loved seeing his character grow throughout the book. I really liked the first-person narrative style in both Amy’s and Elder’s POV. It made the story well-rounded and I liked not being locked in only one mind.

At first, I didn’t like Revis’ new vernacular, “chutz” and “frex.” After a while, though, I got used to the vernacular and I actually felt like it fit the story well. I also didn’t like that I guessed who the bad guy was pretty early on in the story. I know I could see things from different POVs, but it seemed a little too obvious. I did like watching how the characters came to the knowledge of who the villain was, though. At first, the ending didn’t sit well with me. Now that I’ve had time to think about it and let it ruminate a little bit, I can see how it gives the story more potential, which is good since this is the start of a trilogy.

Despite the things I didn’t like, I’m looking forward to reading the sequels. I’m excited to see where this story goes and how it’ll resolve.

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Speak

SpeakTitle: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Format: Paperback
Pages: 202
Reason Read: Reading Challenge
Rating:

My Thoughts

SPEAK was a very hard emotional read. It was a thought-provoking story that deals with hard subjects like sexual assault, bullying, trauma, depression, and pure pressure. The story’s sad but hopeful. At times, it was difficult to keep reading. Even though my heart hurts, it was worth the pain and sorrow.

I thought Anderson did a great job illustrating how sexual assault affects victims. The scene in question was described in the way Melinda, the MC, remembered it, which was utter confusion and extreme pain. I thought that the way the reader comes to realize what happened to Melinda was done really well. Until she was ready to remember the event, the reader only knew that something terrible happened to her and gets to experience the journey of self-awareness with her.

I loved that the story wasn’t completely resolved at the end. It felt more realistic that way. Healing for Melinda has started, but she has a long road to traverse. As I said above, it was sad but hopeful.

I thought SPEAK was extremely powerful. It was definitely one of the most influential books I’ve ever read. I can barely begin to describe all the emotions I felt while reading it. I cried when Melinda finally realized she could overcome her depression and sadness caused by her trauma. I laughed at many of the descriptions used to describe high school because they were so accurate (at least from my POV).  I was angry every time Melinda’s assailant tried to quiet her by taunting her, making her afraid to go to school, and causing her to remember what he did to her over and over again. I was also proud when Melinda finally stood up to him and he got what he deserved.

To be completely honest, I wish this book would’ve been available when I was 14 and going through some of the same things she went through. I think it would’ve helped me work through my trauma at a younger age. I think I would’ve realized that even though I felt irreparable like she did, I could heal and become a much stronger person by facing my fears and confronting my demons.

I also loved that Anderson showed how hard I thought it was to stumble through high school and hope to graduate unscathed. I was amazed at how accurate she portrayed my own feelings of growing up. I think every teenage girl should read this so they understand how staying silent can / will diminish them, and that while speaking up is much harder, it’s also healthier. And, hopefully, it’ll help them realize the strength they have to face adversity and heartache.