All About That Book

I'm a bookworm. I tend to read a lot of books. Shocker, I know. But I don't think I've ever read so many in such a short period of time than I did last semester. The book binge was so fun and stressful that I was a little delirious from it all when I came home and had to do a little book detox. Since I'll be reading and studying mainly Classic British Literature this semester, I wanted to say goodbye to YA lit and list some of my favorites before life gets crazy.

Best Dystopia: Unwind by Neal Shusterman


Summary: Presented as the solution to the abortion debate, children can be unwound (their bodies separated and every part- organs, blood, brain-given to others in need of transplants)until the age of 18. This book follows Connor (whose parents couldn't handle him and signed him off), Risa (an orphan that did not show enough potential or value), and Levi (a tithe made by his family to God)as they try to avoid being unwound. They manage to make it to a safe haven where they can stay till they turn 18, but all is not perfect there under  

My Thoughts: This book was ah-mazing. It doesn't attempt to moralize or lecture, but creates really interesting discussions on what it means to really be alive. All the characters are so complex and realistic. No manic pixie dream girls, perfect and horribly flat boy counterparts! While more subtle than the Hunger Games or Divergent, it is just as impactful (or definitely more so in the case of Divergent).

Runner Up- Feed by M.T. Anderson

Best Non-Fiction: Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

Summary: Bomb follows 3 main story lines: the United States' efforts to build an atomic bomb led by Robert Oppenheimer, the Russian Spies who try and steal the U.S's plans and discoveries, and the Norwegians who impede the Germans from building one first. Told chronologically, these stories interchange frequently throughout the novel. The ending drives the story of the Atomic Bomb past its detonation in Nagasakai and Hiroshima, the Cold War, and addresses the implications of Atomic bombs in the present day.

My Thoughts:Fast paced, engaging, and provocative--this book makes  you think. While the Norwegian storyline was my favorite, the other two were interesting as well.  This book is YA, but it can appeal to everyone. The information isn't watered down, it's more accessible.

Most Uplifting: Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork

Summary: Marcelo has a cognitive disability similar to Aspergers. He's always gone to a special education private school, sleeps in a treehouse, and has difficultly interacting and connecting to people. At the start of the book, Marcelo's father makes a deal with him that if he comes to work in the mailroom at his firm and successfully tries to live in "the Real world," he won't make Marcelo try public school.The more he becomes involved in the "real world", he sees the moral failings around him and finds the drive to fight for justice. 

My Thoughts: How refreshing! I love this book so much. With YA Lit, it seems that the darker a novel is, the "better." This book proved that positive, uplifting books can be just as well-written and engaging as the bleak books.  I was wary of how Stork's depiction of a slightly Autistic character would be, and I'm glad I can say that it was accurate and respectful.  I loved how Stork also wrote about religion and depicted his religious characters. There was no stereotypical close-minded fanatic here, thank goodness!  I loved the gradual progression of the romance; it felt natural. 

Most Likely to Cause All-Nighters: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman

Summary: Lilac LaRoux is the daughter of the richest man in the Universe. She's beautiful, intelligent, and spoiled. Tarver Merendsen comes from a family of a school teacher and a poet. He's a war hero who refuses to question anything other than facts. When the spaceliner has technical difficulties and suddenly everything goes wrong, they end up being the only survivors on a strange, seemingly uninhabited planet. As they journey across the planet to the wreckage site with hopes to attract the attention of Lilac's father, they uncover something that changes everything.

My Thoughts:Yes, the set up is quite cliche- some weird mash up of Romeo and Juliet and Titanic. And the world building definitely is lacking. But the characters? Fantastic. Though their names are a little annoying (Tarver?), they are soo well-written. Both of them have some serious, but gradual character development. And their romance? Delicious. So many YA lit books have this Instant-love-at-first sight kind of thing going on, but this book, despite all of its fantastical elements, creates a realistic build up. The plot had some great turning points, but also had one hugely disappointing twist that I never want to think about again. But despite its weaknesses, I can't help but want to read it again.

Life Changing: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Summary: Melinda went to a party in the summer, got raped, and called the cops. But she physically couldn't explain the situation. Now, starting school, her friends are ignoring her and she is an outcast. At home, her parents fighting drown out any desire of hers to share what happened. She can't help thinking about what happened, but she can't talk about it to anyone either. So she bites her lips till they bled and life becomes internalized. However, as her ex best friend gets involved with Melinda's attacker, Melinda feels the pressure to warn her friend from a similar fate, but that means talking about it. 

My Thoughts: My category may seem a little exaggerated, but it's not. This book is not a new one--it was published in
1999, but it's absolutely excellent. I want to be clear here: this is not a story about rape. It is all about overcoming hard things and rediscovering one's power and voice. I love that Melinda sounds like a teenager and is also honest and funny. I loved how much depth this book had, and how it conveyed the depth in a simple and poignant manner. If you haven't read this book, you need to go and read it now.