Books and Sensibility

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Contemporary YA

Fans of The Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa

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  • Release Date: September 8th 2015
  • Pages: 368
  • Genre: Contemporary
  • Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Penguin)

I was about 40 pages into this book when I had my review already written . I thought this was another overly earnest, quirky contemporary about finding extraordinary in ordinary with your new Magic Pixie Dream friends. Then this book took an unexpected turn, as it delved into some really difficult truths.

Fans of The Impossible Life begins with Jeremy who is returning to his parochial school, St. Francis, after leaving early the year before. He is a loner, but soon befriends the new girl in school Mira and her friend  Sebby. Mira is coming to St. Francis after having to leave her former school for reasons that are unclear until later in the book….

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Game by Barry Lyga

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  • Release Date: April 6, 2013
  • Genre: Contemporary
  • Audiobook Hours: 13 hours 28 minutes
  • Publisher: Hachette Audio

From the opening lines–which describe a serial killer’s thoughts as he disembowels his recent victim –this book hit my squick button. Hard. I  can do gritty, but Game had more body mutilation and necrophilia than I like in my….everything. I was prepared to return this audiobook to the library but I was driving so I kept listening. I’m glad I did because once I got past the prologue, I was dipped right back into a story that was like watching my favorite procedural crime shows. From its twisty mystery, acerbic humor and constant supply of WTF-ery….

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Dream Things True by Marie Marquardt

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  • Release Date: September 1, 2015
  • Genre: Contemporary
  • Pages: 352
  • Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

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Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

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  • Release Date : September 1st 2015
  • Genre : Contemporary
  • Pages : 320
  • Publisher : Delacorte Books For Young Readers

 

To Madeline Whittier the world is a stranger. She suffers from a rare illness that makes her allergic to…everything. She has classes, the internet and mom to keep her connected, but when a troubled family with a curious boy moves next door she realizes she could have more.


I went into this novel thinking it would focus on a romance between Olly and Maddy, but the story focuses more on Maddy’s coming-of-age.  For me this book was all about Maddy and the romance didn’t quite do it for me. I  was more drawn to how Yoon wrote Maddy’s inner conflicts. As the reader you know the risks she takes to be normal are bad for her, but you still want her to take the chance….

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YA Mini Reviews

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The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater ( Audiobook)

When Kat’s review mentioned that this book throws away all of pretense of being anything but fantasy, I braced myself going in because I like the contemporary aspects of this series.  While I was at BEA I talked to a lot of people about my experience listening to this and my verdict was . . . this book got so weird.. . good weird but weird. All the characters you expect and some new ones that will have you changing everything you thought you knew. Patton’s performance was on par, but I can’t unhear some of his cringe worthy singing. Stiefvater is the queen of quirky characters, mysterious settings and bracing readers for the unknown.  ★★★★ 

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Audiobook Review: Fake ID by Lamar Giles

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  • Release Date: January 21, 2014
  • Genre: Contemporary/Thriller/Mystery
  • Length: 7 hours 58 minutes
  • Publisher: Harper Audio

In Lamar Giles debut novel, new kid in town Nick Pearson finds himself mixed up in a murder with a side of corruption. As Nick searches for answers to a murder that could upend all his secrets he dodges bullies, crashes a party and tries to keep his parents together.  Move over Veronica Mars, Nick Pearson is on the case.

Lamar Giles writing is clever. He lays out tension, plot and conflict in front of you while still sneaking in a bit of misdirection. He has a great way of ending chapters on mini cliffhangers and you just HAVE to know what happens next.  I totally did not see the ending coming. I was like “what !?” This isn’t really a spoiler but. . .literally anyone can die. Which takes the tension up to eleven

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