You by Charles Benoit

Here's a blurb from the Harper-Teen page for the book:  This wasn't the way it was supposed to go.

You're just a typical fifteen-year-old sophomore, an average guy named Kyle Chase. This can't be happening to you. But then, how do you explain all the blood? How do you explain how you got here in the first place?

There had to have been signs, had to have been some clues it was coming. Did you miss them, or ignore them? Maybe if you can figure out where it all went wrong, you can still make it right. Or is it already too late? Think fast, Kyle. Time's running out. How did this happen?

You is the riveting story of fifteen-year-old Kyle and the small choices he does and doesn't make that lead to his own destruction.

In his stunning young-adult debut, Charles Benoit mixes riveting tension with an insightful—and unsettling—portrait of an ordinary teen in a tale that is taut, powerful, and shattering.

My Take
 
This book pulled me in and held me there until the final words on the page.  I couldn't put it down and read it basically all in one sitting. 
 
Kyle is a likeable character.  I keep wanting more for him.  I want him to have Ashley as his girlfriend.  I want him to have good friends again.  I want his parents to see all the possibility in him and see that he needs help too.  Kyle is not really a bad kid...he's just a kid.  He's a teenager and that brings certain baggage with it.
 
I could feel Kyle's frustration too.  It's easy to see that if there's no possible way to pass, why bust your ass trying to catch up.  Not much point.  I so wanted someone to reach out to him. 
 
In the same respect, I try explaining to my son all the time how it's so easy to find yourself in a situation that can have far reaching consequences.  Consequences that suddenly, frightenly fall beyond your control.  It's too easy for people to point the finger at someone else and say, "I did that because I was compelled by this person or my situation or whatever.  It's a tougher thing to realize that we all make our own choices in life.  We are a product of the choices we've made over time.  We are where we are in life, due to our choices.  YOU is the story of Kyle Chase coming to realize that.  The writing is tight, intense and compelling.  I absolutely recommend that you read YOU. :)  Four big kisses!
 

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Here's a quick bite from the goodreads page for The Mockingbirds: Some schools have honor codes.


Others have handbooks.

Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

In this honest, page-turning account of a teen girl's struggle to stand up for herself, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that if you love something or someone--especially yourself--you fight for it.

My Take
 
I had heard so many wonderful things about this book.  I was hopeful that I would like it as much as I'd heard everyone else did.  I was NOT disappointed.  I liked this book.  Alex's confusion over doing the right thing and her fear that she had somehow brought all of it upon herself was realistic.  Her friend's devotion to her was heartwarming. 
 
The concept of the Mockingbirds was thought provoking for me.  I think it was very well thought out and an interesting concept.  It was nice to see that students supported one another and didn't turn a blind eye to the seemly or illegal actions of some of their fellow students.   Instead of it being chaos there was a well-ordered system to ensure the offenders take responsibility for their actions.
 
I think too often today, parents don't have those tough talks with their boys about what constitutes consent and what does not.  I know that I have begun that process, due in part to this book.  I want to raise a boy more like Martin and less like Carter.
 
I was touched that Ms. Whitney shares her own story of date rape in the back of the book.  I also thought it was awesome that she shared some links to resources for assistance for young women.  There was minimal swearing, some alcohol, but no drugs in this book.  I definitely recommend picking this one up to read.  I'm giving it four gentle kisses!

 

Rockin' the Anonymous Crit

The fabulous Shannon McMahon has an anonymous critique going on her blog.  Please stop by and offer up a few pearls of wisdom (as I know all readers of my blog have). :o)  Here's a link: Somewhere Between Fact and Fiction

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Here's a quick bite from the book's goodreads page: Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

My Take
 
Wow, Vera is quite a character!  I enjoyed this book a lot.  The characters were vibrant.  The writing was engaging. 
 
My heart went out to Vera once she and Charlie parted ways.  I loved how Vera wasn't willing to compromise herself or her beliefs for anyone.  She knows who she is and she won't be anything less.  This book dealt with some kinda' heavy issues, but kept the humor in things too.  I loved Vera's sarcasm. 
 
I think the only tiny nitpicks I have about it are 1- I kept waiting to hear the history of the Pagoda and I don't think we ever did.  2- I wanted to know what was in the envelope (you'll know which one I'm talking about if you read it).  It would have tied things up nicely in the end for me.  All in all, I loved this book.  The cover even kinda' rocks. :o)  I'm giving it 3 1/2 smooches!
 

Winners of the Gratitude Giveaway!

Woo hoo!  Thanks to everyone who follows and entered the giveaway.  I had over 100 entries and that's just so fantastic!  I now have four winners to announce. 

The winner of Extraordinary is: #151 Wendy of http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/

The winner of Picture the Dead is: #34 Missy of http://www.missysbooknook.blogspot.com/

The winner of Speak is: #109 Kristie Abbott

The winner of The Replacement is: #268 MarcyKate Connolly of http://www.marcykate.com/

Congrats to you all and I should have send an email to you each already.

Thanks again for following my blog.  Stick around, I have some great reviews coming up and I'm sure I'll do another giveaway before too long.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

Here's a quick bit from the goodreads page for this book:  One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.

Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.

My Take

This has to be one of the most amazing, funny, and heartwarming books I've ever read.  The character development in this is stunning.  I felt as though I knew both Will Grayson's and Tiny.  It was obvious when another character was writing that chapter because they were all so distinct. 

I can't even count the number of times that I laughed while reading this book.  It was hugely funny and made me want to read it again and again.  I love Tiny Cooper!  I love his confidence.  I love that instead of changing himself to conform to everyone else's idea of "normal", Tiny challenges their conventional ideas.  He's on a one-man mission to spread love and help others understand that love is the most common miracle.

I can't recommend this book enough.  So funny, so touching, so fabulous!  Go read it right away.  Tell me how you like it once you do.  I give this one four fabulous over the top kisses!

Freefall by Mindi Scott

Here's a blurb from Ms. Scott's website: How do you come back from the point of no return?

Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn’t wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend’s death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely.

Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he’s ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth will soon realize he isn’t the only one who needs saving . . .

My Take
This is one of the books in The Contemps Challenge.  Grief is a difficult thing to deal with.  Adults grapple with it, but it's even tougher as a teen.  It's difficult to go on with your life and be happy without feeling guilty for doing so sometimes.  Seth McCoy is trying to overcome so much; his feelings of loss, his stage fright, his lack of anyone to talk to, his inability to cope with everything he's mired in.  Rosetta is like a breath of fresh air that blows into Seth's life at just the right moment.

I really enjoyed this book.  It got me to thinking about the process of letting go and letting things happen.  Thinking about the fact that we are also a culmination of our experiences, good or bad that we've encountered in our lives.  Rosetta is smart and funny.  Seth is such a great guy.  He's complex, loyal, and tender but such a regular guy too. 

I love how Seth's determined to carve his own path through life.  Not just letting himself wind up a drop-out in a dead end situation.  It's great he gives IC class a real chance and let it change how he dealt with his own issues too.  I think both guys and girls would love this book.  I'm giving it four big smooches!