Plethora of Reviews

Ha, I know I've been holding back by waiting till now to review all the books I've read in the last month or so, but it's summer and blogging is now more work than my normal activities (back during the school year it was a welcome break from homework) and I would rather read more or sleep than take the time to blog. So that's the reason behind this massive bunch right now.
-Heather

Revenge of the Cheerleaders: A Review

Title: Revenge of the Cheerleaders
Author: Janette Rallison
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Where I Found It: Library
Summary: High School Cheerleader Chelsea seeks revenge against her younger sister's rock-and-roller boyfriend after he embarrasses her once to often, but when she falls for his older brother, things become really complicated.
General Impression: I was impressed, expecting the normal light comedy from Janette Rallison, this one had more character development and depth than I think I've ever seen in her writing before. She didn't slack off on the humor front though. I was shocked by Janette creating a cheerleader character that I could relate to on as many levels as I did and yet at the same time be able to relate to her little sister. Her little sister whose goal it is to be the her exact opposite, no less. Anyone who wants a humorous romantic little teenage drama, this is your book.
-Heather

"How about that tall blond guy by the door?" Rachel said. "He's here with a friend but he keeps looking around - a sure sign he wants to meet someone."

When I didn't protest, she nodded in his direction, sizing him up again. "We'll have to approach slowly so as not to scare him off. Blonds startle easily."

Th1rteen R3asons Why: A Review

Title: Th1rteen R3asons Why

Author: Jay Asher

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Where I Found It: Borrowed From Friend

Summary: Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

Hannah's voice explains that there are thirteen reasons she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why.

Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a first-hand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself - a truth he never wanted to face.

General Impression: Well done, the only problem I had with this book was knowing exactly who was talking sometimes, Clay or Hannah. Then there was one moment that sort of felt like a cop out, but other than those two things, it was brilliant. I felt so deeply for these characters, Jay Asher did a truly amazing job of weaving this tale. It made me think, and begin to understand that everything you do, effects someone, in someway. No matter how small you think an action is, it has the power to completely shred someones life. I'm going with my typical recommendation for books with serious themes, only read this book if you're willing to acknowledge the pain that's gong on in the world.

-Heather

Fame, Glory, and Other Things On My To Do List: A Review

Title: Fame, Glory, and Other Things On My To Do List
Author: Janette Rallison
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Where I Found It: Library
Summary: Jessica is thrilled when a son of a movie star moves to her town, sure her big break is at hand. However problems arise when the Principal decides that West Side Story isn't politically correct and insists it be rewritten to today's social standards.
General Impression: Janette Rallison, you never fail to write books that make me likely to cause damage to my internal organs because I'm laughing so hard. The way the character's interacted never got tiring, and even if the plot was a little on the predictable side, and maybe had to great of a happy ending, it was okay because it's a romantic teen comedy. The two main characters get together (seriously not a spoiler, you know it has to happen from chapter one) because it's a romantic teen comedy. The point is to get caught up in the humor filled whirlwind and go along for the ride. So if you want a book filled with Awww's and HAHAHAHA!'s, this is a must read. Especially if you're into acting.
-Heather

"No, I'm not Jessica's boyfriend. I'm the guy she likes but is giving to Kate because it's her best friend's turn to have a boyfriend."

"Jordan . . ." I said.

"What?" Brendan asked.

Jordan held up his hand, a gesture of disbelief. "You didn't know girls could give guys away either? Apparently they have an entire system set up that we don't know about. Just think of all the effort we could have saved ourselves if we had known."

The Sledding Hill: A Review

Title: The Sledding Hill

Author: Chris Crutcher

Rating: 9 out of 10

Where I Found It: Library

Summary: Billy, recently deceased, keeps an eye on his best friend, fourteen-year-old Eddie, who has added to his home and school problems by becoming mute, and helps him stand up to a conservative minister and English teacher who is orchestrating a censorship challenge.

General Impression: I was so pleased to see Chris Crutcher take on a book that didn't have as heavy of a sports background, it was still there, just not as much. I have to say I loved this book, more than, maybe all but one of his other stories, which is Deadline for anyone who may want to check it out. I felt like I could relate to this book more than any of the others he's written. It was really clever, I think, to write a book about censorship by the way even if the tid bit of self-promotion ticked me off a little. I would suggest this for anyone you would like to get interested in Chris Crutcher who you don't feel is ready for his other work yet (in my example, probably my mom or something like that).

-Heather

A Corner of the Universe: A Review

Title: A Corner of the Universe
Author: Ann M. Martin
Rating: 6 out of 10
Where I Found It: Library
Summary:Hattie Owen prefers to be steeped in the familiarity of her small-town life than to think about the vast world beyond her own. Her family's boarding house is where she feels most at home, with its eccentric tenants and predictable routines - so different from the controlling and repressive home of her well-to-do grandparents who live nearby.
But during the summer that Hattie turns 12, her world is turned upside down with the startling arrival of an uncle no one has ever spoken about. Now that Adam's "school" - an institution for the mentally disabled - is closing, Hattie's family must deal with a childlike young man whose existence they've denied for years. And Hattie experiences a summer that expands her world in the most unpredictable ways.
General Impression: Nothing really worth raving over, saw plot twists coming or didn't care when they did, I didn't really feel any connection with any of the characters or the situation. Not a bad book though, just average I guess.
-Heather

Blue Noon: A Review

Title: Blue Noon
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Rating: 9 out of 10
Where I Found It: Schulers
Summary: The five midnighters from Bixby discover that the secret hour is starting to invade the daylight world, and if they cannot stop it, the darklings will soon be free to hunt again.
General Impression: A glorious climax to a the trilogy. Everything about it was fantastic. Looking back on how the character's have grown through the three books, I just have to smile. And for the record Rex has made it onto my Favorite Fictional Men list. There isn't really much for me to say other than, seriously, read this series.