October 2015

October 31, 2015

Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

Zoe has been best friends with Olivia since elementary school, spending long hours dancing ballet in an elite program and hanging out together. But when the ballet program cuts them because they’re not quite good enough, they suddenly find themselves wondering what they’ll do with the extra time. Olivia volunteers at a community center dance program until she’s diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia. Without her best friend at school, Zoe is suddenly adrift, questioning who she is without Olivia and wondering how God can let a young, vibrant teen get so sick.

I admired Zoe’s devotion to Olivia. She visited the hospital, she called, she even took over her dance class on the weekends and Skype her in when she could. But most of the time, she feels helpless. Her grades slipped because when she’s not spending time with Olivia, she’s thinking about her. Truth is, Zoe was kind of lost before this happened with Olivia. She missed dancing, soccer didn’t cut it, and maybe she just wasn’t ready to trust herself dancing again. She didn’t have something to fill her time like she used to. I can imagine how out of control everything felt for her.

What happens to Olivia is obvious by the halfway point, but Kantor brings in a romance for Zoe, to lukewarm results. I never felt that there was any real chemistry between Zoe and Calvin, and that the story had the potential to stand on its own without him. There are ways to grow up without a boy by your side, and the relationship between Zoe and Olivia has enough to drive that point home. It’s clear that they each provide something that the other needs - patience for Zoe and a blunt voice for Olivia and the moments that showcase that are the most powerful.

Release Date: February 18, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN13: 9780062279200
Source: Bought via National Bookstore

Get it on:
Amazon
Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)

October 31, 2015

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

by Princess Primeah MS, in book review

Since You've Been Gone is a fun and light read kind of story. Emily is just shy and born socially-awkward when actually she's a fun girl to hang out with once you know her well. Befriending Sloane seems to be the best fit since she's all everything Emily is not. With Sloane, Emily could easily join in the talk and even make up funny jokes which she strangely couldn't do when she is on her own. It's like Sloane is the sun that makes Emily's beautiful unlit world shining bright.

Emily and Sloane are the best of friends and are incredibly close, so Emily is left lonely and confused when Sloane disappears without a trace. She's not answering her phone, her house is empty, and no one knows where she is. Sloane has literally just disappeared. No words, not even goodbye.

It's not until two weeks later that a letter comes to Emily with a very familiar handwriting on it. Unlike what Emily expects the letter is about, It is some tasks or rather check list that Sloane wanted her to do.

This book is a wonderful combination of friendship, family and romance. Even though the romance with Frank Porter - The boy who offers to help Emily find her best friend and complete the list - is slow and really lovely, it's not the main focus of the sorry. It's all about Emily discovering who is without the person she spent the most time with, and who knows her better than anyone. It's about doing things that are outside of your comfort zone, and making new friends in the process.

Emily's new found friends make the story what it is, a cosy and wonderful summer trip. And Emily's relationship with her little brother is a delight. although some of the things that Sloane has set Emily to do may not seem life changing but i can see that they would've made emily feel accomplished.

If you're looking for a light read that is not just enjoyable but adventurous and have good lessons implied too, then this book is for you. It delivers a pleasant story of a girl's discovery of her self-worth, hidden urge to take risk, and true meaning of friendship during a period of summer. Go get it girl!

Release Date: May 6, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 1442435003
Source: Bought via Fully Booked

Get it on:
Amazon
Book Depository (Free Shipping Worldwide)

October 23, 2015

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

by Princess Primeah MS, in book review

This is a world divided by blood - red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance - Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart...

I finally read this one, you all! I was expecting it to be good because i'm seeing it most of the time on the bookish people i follow on Instagram and i was very pleased to discover that my assumptions aren't wrong. It is well written and I love how she wrote the surprising turns and political intrigue. The plot twist and betrayal is mind blowing.

It begins as all high fantasy dystopias do, with a young unassuming girl slumming her way through her rather unfortunate situation only to discover that she’s special. Yes, she is. Mare is discovered to be an impossibility, the secret that could topple an already precarious hierarchy. She have Red blood which supposed to not have powers like the Silvers do but as the story goes you'll get answer about why does she have that and you'll see that not everyone around you can be trusted.

The characters undergo some interesting changes, but I think I would’ve liked to have seen some more description of their backgrounds. I believe there is much to be discovered. We get glimpses of these things but I really would like to know more and have them more fleshed out.The glimpses that we got of this world make me want to hear more about it. Let’s hope that two more books in this series will be sufficient for some extra world-building.

Red Queen is a combination of a dystopia with a magical world setting. It's like an X-Men stuck in a high fantasy world on crack. If you haven't read it, well go get it! I'm sure you'll love this one too.

The book 2 will be released on February 9, 2016 and i can't wait to buy it. I'm planning to Pre-order it and i'm hoping that Victoria Aveyard would come here to the Philippines because that would be super awesome! :D