Review ~ I'll Meet You There ~ Heather Demetrios #2017HW #COYER #ShelfLove

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Source: Purchased Hardback 
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017HW, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
If Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing separating Skylar from art school is three months of summer...until Skylar's mother loses her job, and Skylar realizes her dreams may be slipping out of reach.

Josh had a different escape route: the Marines. But after losing his leg in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be.

What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise - a quirky motel off California's Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and, soon, something deeper.

Compelling and ultimately hopeful, this is a powerful examination of love, loss, and resilience.

I procured this gem after reading Tanya's review (Girl Plus Books) and I can't thank her enough for the recommendation! I'll Meet You There is a moving read, powerful, and I'm thrilled I put it on my HW list.

Skylar has just graduated from high school and is preparing for college in San Francisco where she has a full ride scholarship in art. Embarking on this new journey is daunting especially because even though leaving Creek View, a dead-end town, is her dream, she's leaving the familiar and her friends, not to mention her mom lost her job and is losing it. And then there's this boy...

Josh escaped Creek View when he graduated by enlisting in the Marines. He's back home now after suffering a traumatic injury. He's dealing with figuring out what he is if not a Marine as well as parents who are lackluster (an extreme understatement)...And he can't stop thinking about this girl...

This story of a girl, who's dealt with so much loss and pain, figuring out how she's going to move onto the next phase when it's going to mean leaving behind what she's only just realizing is a big part of her, meshed with the story of a boy who's dealing with his own brand of loss and pain coupled with guilt after all he saw and experienced in Afghanistan...well, it made for an incredibly emotional and gripping read. The detail -- the emotion of it -- was very genuine and realistic. The alternating POV, even though primarily related from Skylar's, provided that much more understanding for what they were experiencing. The format of Josh's POV was unique and really gave a fascinating glimpse into his psyche. The inclusion of Skylar's art -- collages -- was also distinct and well done. The secondary cast is well drawn, allowing me to see the impact they each make on Skylar's and Josh's lives. Honestly, there isn't anything I didn't like about the story. This was my first Demetrios read but it certainly won't be my last. She delivered a meaty, engaging, and realistic young adult story!

Review ~ The Female of the Species ~ Mindy McGinnis #2017HW #ShelfLove

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Source: Purchased hardcover
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017HW, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads

Synopsis
Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn't feel bad about it. When her older sister, Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best. The language of violence.

While her crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can't be trusted among other people, even in her small hometown. She relegates herself to the shadows, a girl who goes unseen in plain sight, unremarkable in the high school hallways.

But Jack Fisher sees her. He's the guy all other guys want to be: the star athlete gunning for valedictorian with the prom queen on his arm. Guilt over the role he played the night Anna's body was discovered hasn't let him forget Alex over the years, and now her green eyes amid a constellation of freckles have his attention. He doesn't want to only see Alex Craft; he wants to know her.

So does Peekay, the preacher's kid, a girl whose identity is entangled with her dad's job, though that does not stop her from knowing the taste of beer or missing the touch of her ex-boyfriend. When Peekay and Alex start working together at the animal shelter, a friendship forms and Alex's protective nature extends to more than just the dogs and cats they care for.

Circumstances bring Alex, Jack, and Peekay together as their senior year unfolds. While partying one night, Alex's darker nature breaks out, setting the teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.

According to the Kipling Society, The Female of the Species describes the "moral strength and single-mindedness of women throughout history, in familial and political contexts, in contrast to the weakness and vacillation of men."

"I am a wolf that my sister kept in a cage, until her hand was removed. I have been out, curious as I wake up from a lethargic solitude, self-enforced because I know I don't belong here. It's not safe for me to be out but they rattled my cage. First Claire, and then Jack. And now I'm awake, deviating from the paths I created in order to remain stable. I'm out, and awake, and afraid I won't be easily put back in."

This book has quite a lot to say. And it did so very well. The parallels between that first quote and the three MC's...Alex, Peekay, and Jack embody those words.

We have Alex, who has defined herself as "vengeance" and despite believing she feels no guilt, has a very strong moral compass. She sees herself as defending the weak - those who can't protect themselves - whether they be human or cats and dogs. This side of her, while scary, was absolutely fascinating. And although she feels she doesn't belong, a part of her longs for that feeling - something I think she had when her sister was alive. She also got people to look at themselves differently...

Peekay, for example. She's always been called Peekay - preacher's kid - and didn't think anything of it. But Alex asks for and calls her by her given name, Claire. It never occurred to Peekay the statements she made without words by accepting that nickname, much less the reasons behind doing so. She allowed it to influence her identity. She's strong though and finds the depth of her inner strength after befriending Alex. I found it of particular interest that she had thoughts similar to those of Alex, the difference being that Peekay would never act on them.

Then there's Jack - who was inspired to be a better person because of Alex. He'd been curious about her and her thoughts about his character since the night her sister's body was found. And Jack, he's a good guy even if he is a cad. But he waffled in his loyalties and decisions - found it apparently difficult to stay on the right path.

And through all this, the interactions between Alex, Peekay, and Jack - the bonds of friendship forming and love blossoming -McGinnis incorporated social commentary on teen culture: rape culture, sexual objectification, the double standards regarding boy vs girl behavior. And it was brilliant! There were some difficult moments to read - this story is raw and gritty - but I also felt things were realistically portrayed. The Female of the Species is certainly thought-provoking. 

This is my favorite #2017HW read so far!

#OctobeRecFest Chat Review ~ I'll Give You the Sun ~ Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
Source: Borrowed from Sky's friend
Rating: 5 Beautiful, Exploding with Color Bookworms
Challenges: #OctobeRecFest
Recommended by: Sky
Goodreads

Synopsis
Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways...until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else - an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they'd have a chance to remake their world.

This radiant novel from the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Sky is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing - often all at once.

*****

As y'all know, Sky was home last week for her fall break. Her friend, Maya, at Reed lent her I'll Give You the Sun because she thought it was such a moving read. Sky devoured it in a day and then asked me to read it. Since it was her recommendation and she wanted us to fangirl over it, I decided a Mom/Daughter Chat Review was in order. Enjoy!

Sky: How do you start these conversations with Lexxie?

Me: We just start talking like we would if we were sitting together talking...

Sky: Ummmmmmm
How was your day?

Me: LOL Silly - we're supposed to talk about the book! 

Sky: You said like we were if we were sitting talking together! 

Me: Stinker! 
I'll start...
I'll Give You the Sun was very impactful (is that a word?) Why did you want me to read it?

Sky: This is a hard question to answer!

Me: Ooh, I've stumped you already 

Sky: Oh my goodness. Hmmm.....

Me: How did you feel about how the story was conveyed - with the switching POVs and timelines?

Sky: *****I DOUBLE TEXT

Me: What?

Sky: I'm answering your question right now
that's why my dots are moving 
the first question that is
A lot of the time I convey thoughts in separate bubbles
oops!!
I'll stop doing that for this conversation

Me: Tech-challenged mom, remember?

Sky: I guess something about it just really left a mark on me. It's not really that there's an important moral or message, necessarily, but the way that the book is written is just masterful. It really takes you on a wild ride. Also, I love character-driven books like this one. I think maybe that was why I wanted you to read it. The characters from IGYTS have a way of getting in your head and they're just so real.
Also the emotional roller coaster that is this book is something else... Books that make me cry the whole way through I feel are always really amazing.

Me: I'm a character-driven story fan as well and I agree. The way Nelson described every little detail (in an incredibly way) about how both Noah and Jude were feeling...I just...they did get in my head and I wanted to hug them. It made me so sad that something, that many siblings experience, was able to drive a wedge between them. Competitiveness. Selfishness. All normal, I suppose.
And yes, it was quite the emotional roller coaster. And that's a mark of a fabulous book in my opinion as well. 

Sky: I don't know really if the wedge was driven between the siblings or if it was between the characters themselves! By that I mean that I feel as if Jude and Noah both isolated themselves from who they truly were, and thereby each other.

Me: You don't think there was a wedge? I agree that they isolated themselves from each other - and that was heartbreaking. But they intentionally did things to the other knowing what the repercussions would be. Those things were done with intent.
I liked when, I think it was Jude, said that they weren't recognizable anymore. They'd removed from themselves all that made them who they were. I know this was done after the tragic event but I also think the competitiveness had placed a barrier between them. They didn't have twin-speak for awhile...

Sky: Hm, I guess so.
It's been awhile since I read it.
haha

Me: You're going to have to re-read it since you devoured it the first time! 

Sky: I know!

Me: It's okay to disagree with me though 
Did you have a favorite character?

Sky: Noah and Brian!
What about you?

Me: I don't know...I felt for Guillermo and also...oh shoot, I can only remember his last name (Ralph) the British guy.
But yeah, Noah and Brian made me smile quite a bit. I loved the stargazing, the search for meteorites (is that the right term?), and Noah's descriptions of his feelings when he was with Brian...when he thought about Brian. It was incredible!

And as a mom, I felt for Jude as well. She'd been going through a "normal" teenage phase when what happened happened. She needed her mom and she didn't have her anymore.

Which makes me think...both Noah and Jude really withdraw after "the event" and they think it's for the same reason but it's not. And they both feel so much guilt for something they had no control over. (well, Noah had control over a few things, but...)

Sky: Oscar!

Me: Yesssss!

Sky: Oscore

Me: They all experienced so much early in life or at least at critical stages and they had to grow up much too quickly!

Sky: I agree!
How did you feel about Mom's actions?

Me: That's tough. Because of course, I don't agree with what was going on. But I also can see where she was coming from - especially the being true to yourself element. She couldn't very well tell Noah to be himself when she wasn't being true to herself. (but don't worry, I wouldn't do that)
How did you feel about her actions?

Sky: I felt similarly conflicted, but most of all I felt like it really showed how human she was. How we change, we make mistakes, and mostly we're just doing our best. I felt like she did a disservice to Dad -- that aspect, I really felt like she did a poor job of handling. But you're right. Her situation was such that what she ended up choosing would have been best for everyone, I think. But I like that Mom drives the entire book -- that she's the focal point of everything that happened and everything that happens. I really think Noah might be onto something when he said she seemed like she was from a different planet, because she is a very good human, but she's like the black hole at the center of the galaxy that is IGYTS.

Me: You're absolutely right about Mom being flawed. In fact, I think that all the characters are shown to be flawed...very human. We do all make mistakes and hopefully learn from them.
What you said is very profound. I don't think I really thought about Mom driving the story in those terms but she certainly did. And I also liked Noah's description of her - what did her call her? A blow in? I like your black hole analogy though. Very accurate.

I really liked how everyone was all tangled up in the same story. You know I firmly believe in things happening for a reason and so I liked the interconnection in the story.

Sky: Me too!! That was something I really admired about it. The plot made me think of those funny pictures of people with string tacked all over their corkboard

But really, the humanistic aspect of the story was something super important to me. It was so refreshing to see characters who were so human, even if in a lot of ways they really weren't normal at all. It meant a lot to see them making mistakes, and I liked that none of them were really FIXED at the end! Everyone just learned to live with what happened and go from there; there was no magical remedy. I really appreciated that.

Me: I liked that as well - the fact that there wasn't a magical cure. They did what they did, learned what they learned, and coped...AND LIVED. That's what Mom would have wanted. Although it might have broke her heart to know the route they took to get there. But that's part of life as well.
We can't not mention the art. Oh my goodness the art! I felt as though I could almost see it all in my mind. I loved the interconnection there as well. But the color, the passion...really, it's how Noah communicated for a long time, I think.

Sky: I definitely headcanon Noah as autistic.
Especially the lack of verbal communication and his art...I dunno, that's just really the way it struck me.
He kind of reminded me of Anna from Soul Walker. 

Me: headcanon?
Yeah, I could see that but in the end I don't think he was

Sky: Trendy teen term
you don't think so?

Me: Hmm...maybe?

Sky: Not even high-functioning?

Me: So yeah, now that you mention it, Noah does remind me of Anna 
High-functioning for sure though
I don't know why it didn't hit me while I was reading but now that I think about it - his inner dialog about not knowing what to do with his hands, etc., yeah, that does sound like autism.

Sky: Also how single-track he is, and his art

Me: True. I couldn't believe how Jude described him drawing and drawing until he had to stick his hand in the freezer.

Sky: Dad's scientist side made me laugh. "Oh that makes sense." Hahahahaha

Me: LOL That made me laugh as well. And it's funny that neither Noah nor Jude got much of his science-y brain. 

Sky: It is!
Oh, Guillermo!
We have to talk about Guillermo.

Me: Yes, let's...

Sky: Oh, but first!
How much of the end did you guess?
The only think I was missing was Jude's dancing sand women. 
I liked that aspect of the book - getting to figure out everything and try to guess what was coming

Me: I was wrong about the "who" with Jude's dancing sand women.
I enjoyed that aspect as well. Again, everything was so interconnected. It was a fun element - trying to guess.

Sky: Maya said that she didn't see the thing with Mom coming at all, haha.

Me: Hmm...I did. And I always felt something was off. Mom's secret...why do you think she was hiding that one part of herself that she didn't have to hide?

Sky: Society. 
No, haha, I think she did it for her kids

Me: How so? (I know we're being obtuse here but I don't want to be spoiler-y)

Sky: I think that she felt their lives would be healthier if she hid everything and tried to make it seem like nothing had changed. What she didn't understand is that kids are perceptive.
I think eventually it got to the point where she and Dad had to change something, though. So she tried to do it in a way that would break things gently for her kids.

Me: True - kids are very perceptive!
But I felt like the one thing she was hiding was something she could share with her kids - bond over
Guillermo, how do you feel about him?

Sky: I agree. And I think that was her mistake.
I think Guillermo needed Oscar, because he didn't know how to cope.

Me: Of course, it's easy for us to see that.
And Oscar needed Guillermo as well, for sure!
Isn't it interesting how that one little piece of information, once Guillermo had it, completely changed his perception of things and thereby his life?

Sky: Yes! And I think it did for all of them!

Me: True. How did you feel about how Jude handled that?
And what else do you want to say about Guillermo?

Sky: I don't remember what Jude did.
I think something about the stone could be a metaphor for the people in this book...I liked the way the stoneworking was described.

Me: I felt Jude handled it all very maturely - that's all. I was impressed.
I loved the stoneworking as well. Guillermo's work - particularly the woman coming out of the man's chest and the stone giants. Oh, and the angel! But I also liked Jude realizing she had something to say but it had to be said through that particular medium. And then when she went to work, the piece that came first wasn't what she'd intended but was something she needed to say as well. 
Yes, the stone could be a metaphor for the characters...perceptive of you. 

Sky: Hahaha, thanks.

Me: Is there anything else you wanted to discuss? I'm wondering if we've covered all your "more on that later"s... 
By the way, I loved Jude's "That Girl" epiphany. That was awesome!

Sky: Oh yeah!
I was telling you to wait and see, haha.

Me: I'm so happy that Maya shared this book with you and that you then shared it with me. I can't say enough glowing things about it. It was sometimes tough to read but it was a beautiful story and beautifully told. I loved it!

Review ~ The Things They Carried ~ Tim O'Brien

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Release Date: December 29, 1998
Genre: Adult, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Source: Borrowed from Sky's shelf
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #BookishResolutions, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
They carried malaria tablets, love letters, 28-pound mine detectors, dope, illustrated bibles, each other. And if they made it home alive, they carried unrelenting images of a nightmarish war that history is only beginning to absorb. Since its first publication, The Things They Carried has become an unparalleled Vietnam testament, a classic work of American literature, and a profound study of men at war that illuminates the capacity, and the limits, of the human heart and soul.

The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and the character Tim O'Brien, who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three.

"I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth." ... "What stories can do, I guess, is make things present." Tim, pg 171-172

The Things They Carried was powerfully told and emotionally engaging. It's a story of war but also of self-discovery. This book is technically a work of fiction, but it's rooted in truth and relevant -- extremely relevant. I was shocked, actually, to think of the similarities and parallels between the social and political climate of the 60's and that of today. But that quote above? That's the importance of this story being told. Also, 

"But this too is true: stories can save us." Tim, pg. 213

That's why this story needed to be told. In The Things They Carried stories were not only a way of keeping things - truths, ideas, each other - alive during the war but afterward they were a way of keeping the soldiers alive in death as well.

"Well, right now," she said, "I'm not dead. But when I am, it's like...I don't know, I guess it's like being inside a book that nobody's reading.""A book?" I said."And old one. It's up on a library shelf, so you're safe and everything, but the book hasn't been checked out for a long, long time. All you can do is wait. Just hope somebody'll pick it up and start reading."

I appreciated this analogy and it reiterated the importance of storytelling to keep the past - people, history, customs, and culture - alive. But I also think storytelling is cathartic for the storyteller. And Tim O'Brien is a master! This book is amazing in that it made me feel, made me think, made me consider... It's an experience I won't soon forget and isn't that the point?

***

My older daughter requested I read this because it made such an impression on her. Thanks for asking me to read this, Sky, and for listening to me and chatting with me as it left its mark on me as well.

Middle Grade Review ~ Listening for Lucca ~ Suzanne LaFleur

Listening for Lucca by Suzanne LaFleur
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Purchased hardcover (for my younger daughter)
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Challenges: Bookish Resolutions, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
"I'm obsessed with abandoned things." Siena's obsession began a year and a half ago, around the time her two-year-old brother Lucca stopped talking. Now Mom and Dad are moving the family from Brooklyn to Maine hoping that it will mean a whole new start for Lucca and Siena. She soon realizes that their wonderful old house on the beach holds secrets. When Siena writes in her diary with an old pen she found in her closet, the pen writes its own story, of Sarah and Joshua, a brother and sister who lived in the same house during World War II. As the two stories unfold, amazing parallels begin to appear, and Siena senses that Sarah and Joshua's story might contain the key to unlocking Lucca's voice.

Listening for Lucca was a sweet story. There were many elements I really liked but as I sat down to write my review, I found it hard to say exactly what the story was trying to convey - its message, if you will. Still, I liked it and am happy to have read one of my younger daughter's favorite books.

Siena and her little brother, Lucca, and their family, have moved from Brooklyn to Maine in an attempt to ease tension - live a more relaxed lifestyle - in hopes Lucca will speak again. Siena has a special gift - she sees things from the past - in fact, the house her family has moved to is one she's been dreaming about for years. Once they begin getting settled, Siena, and Lucca as well, experience some odd things which have Siena wondering how it is they really ended up here.

The story alternates between the present - Siena making friends, playing with Lucca - and the past - Siena getting the story of a brother and sister who once lived in their house, through trance-like states and/or dreams. There are similarities between Siena and Lucca and Sarah and Joshua, and Siena ends up setting out to help Sarah and Joshua in the past in order to repair things with Lucca in the present.

I liked the story overall. I enjoyed getting to know Siena and her family. I also enjoyed the historical element of Sarah and Joshua's life during WWII. The paranormal element was also well done even thought it's not exactly explained. That Siena is such a compassionate you girl (14 yo) and is willing to do anything she can to help her brother made her very likable. And I, of course, felt for Sarah and Joshua as the dealt with the repercussions of war. The story flowed well and I can understand why this is on my daughter's list of favorites.

**My TBR List ~ Review ~ The Truth About Alice ~ Jennifer Mathieu**

My To-Be Read List is a new meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. Michelle has been doing this for awhile and recently decided to extend the fun for us all. I thought it was a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

******

The Truth About Alice

by Jennifer Mathieu
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic
Source: Roaring Brook Press via Netgalley
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
Everyone know Alice slept with two guys at one party.

But did you know Alice was sexting Brandon when he crashed his car?

It's true. Ask ANYBODY.

Rumor has it that Alice Franklin is a slut. It's written all over the bathroom stall at Healy High for everyone to see. And after star quarterback Brandon Fitzsimmons dies in a car accident, the rumors start to spiral out of control.

In this remarkable debut novel, four Healy High students - the girl who has the infamous party, the car accident survivor, the former best friend, and the boy next door - tell all they know.

But exactly what is the truth about Alice? In the end there's only one person to ask: Alice herself.

The Truth About Alice is a very moving and realistic look at teen life. It also speaks to the power of words.

This story is told from four different POVs - all characters with varying degrees of interaction with Alice. There's Elaine, the head of the popular girl clique, who has a grudge against Alice over something from 8th grade. Then there's Josh, the star wide receiver who survived the car accident Alice supposedly caused. There's Kelsie, Alice's BFF, who was so quick to turn her back on Alice in order to ensure she kept her popular girl status. And finally, Kurt, the nerdy boy who was the only one to reach out to Alice when she most needed someone.

Alice herself is just a normal girl with a less than normal family. And she falls victim to nasty words and rumors.

This was a difficult story to read. I wanted to shake Elaine, Kelsie, and Josh on several occasions, but I remember being a teen. Heck I'm mom to two teen girls. And although I've taught my girls (all my kids, actually) compassion and right from wrong, ultimately their behavior is their choice. I'm not intimating that any of these characters had strong role models at home. And they live in a small, judgmental town. But they all seemed to realize what they were doing was hurtful and wrong. And yet they didn't stop.

Alice said:

There is one thing I've learned about people: they don't get that mean and nasty overnight. It's not human nature. But if you give people enough time, eventually they'll do the most heartbreaking stuff in the world.

I think this basically sums up this story. I choose to believe that Elaine, Kelsie, and Josh saw the errors of their way and lived differently. What I know is that words carry unbelievable power to hurt. And it's a hurt that can't be undone. But Alice's experience taught her an invaluable lesson about what's important in life.