Review of The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (CHAOS WALKING #2)

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Patrick Ness and his cliffhangers will never fail to disappoint me. Ness is one of those authors that will almost certainly play with my emotions, whether I like it or not.

His writing is stellar, and the way he puts you inside of Todd and Viola's head is also quite stunning. I was drawn into this story in a way I haven't felt regarding books in a long time, and I applaud him for that. Ness made me feel all these sorts of conflicting emotions, and his writing style never fails to create inner turmoil. I understood Mayor Prentiss and Davy Prentiss in a completely different way than I saw them in the first book. I saw the less-evil side of them, although the faking-kindness side was a whole lot more prominent throughout this novel.

Whilst talking about Noise and Spackles and ships, Patrick Ness also talks about more deeper issues. There are so many underlying themes in this series, like genocide, feminsim, and even terrorism. People aren't always exactly as they seem, and I grew quite fond of Wilf throughout this book. I also grew to appreciate Viola, and I absolutely loved the dual point of view in this story. Patrick Ness deals with the issues of "good" and "bad" in a really remarkable way, and the almost numb storytelling from Todd in the majority of the book really opened me up to that. 

I don't even know how to describe his writing except forcompletely magical.

This series is meant for children. Many books are meant for children--for adolescents who probably don't have anything else to do in their lives. So many people belittle that these days, saying that Young Adult novels are pointless and are only for happy fluffy feels. I'm sure the Goodreads community completely disagrees with that, and this is just another book to prove that. There are so many deeper issues that books like these portray in subtle ways, and they truly teach people lessons. 

Why not? Because ...we are the choices we make 

That resonated with me. Todd is constantly trying to prove himself, and his emotions are so crystal clear even while they are being blunted from the horrors in his life. Viola is just trying to pull through with the one she loves in a society that is so different and so biased against people like her. And I'm not only talking about women there, but a lot of other things. Because this book taught me that people are not simple. They cannot be defined, and the "sides" get blurred too often. Because, who was Davy Prentiss? On one hand, you could say he was evil and awful. He did pretty horrific things, but yet... he is so much more than that. And it saddens me to see people not able to see others complexly. 

But Todd saw! Todd, the one who can't even read and continuously saves a Spack who wants to murder him. For Viola. To prove his inner goodness. That is what this book taught me, and I think that it is an essential lesson in life.

In this book, there was no "good" side. The Ask? Definitely not? The Answer? Debatalbe, but I believe that side wasn't fully good either. And that was the point! The point was that there are no good sides--ever--but there aren't any bad sides either. At least, that's how I interpreted it. And before I ramble any further, let me wrap up this review. Actual Rating: 4.2 stars

Review of Winger by Andrew Smith!

Rating:

 

Winger had me laughing so hard that my sides hurt--actually hurt, which I've always heard about in novels but never actually experienced myself. It had me crying because it was just so damn funny and then it had me choking and coughing because I lost my breath. And now I have a permanent cough and I feel like I can hack up a lung, but you know what? It was completely worth it.

Winger inspires me to succeed in life, and it does so through its humor and its sadness. Andrew Smith is an author who is genuinely hilarious, and with all those monotonous and dull books out there, it feels like a gem. Truly. Never have I met a book that I felt so eager to protect, almost like a... baby?

Okay. That got weird way too fast. Let's backtrack a bit.

This was a hunk of a book, and I picked it up a few hours ago and finished it just now. It distracted me from my completely essential summer work for school, but oh well, because it was pretty fantastic. And for the majority of the time, I acted like a madwoman, letting out bursts of laughter randomly and then shutting up and continuing to read. I loved the illustrations, the graphs, the comic-like drawings, and pretty much everything about it. Andrew Smith sure can channel my inner immature side and bring it out full force, and Ryan Dean was a pretty amazing protagonist.

I thought this would just be a light and fun read, but at the end, it turned out to be so much more. Yes, this book was hilarious and upbringing, but it also sent me in an emotional tailspin once I finished. I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or just stare into silence and contemplate my life and everything around me. Obviously, I chose the latter.

The ending took me completely by surprise, and I don't really know how to properly express it into these tangible words that you can read and understand. But I'm going to try.

Winger shows life, and that scared me sometimes. It was fun, it was dark, it was almost foul sometimes, but isn't that life? Isn't that just exactly how life is supposed to be? When I finished, I was in complete shock. It got serious all too fast, and (view spoiler in original review) not in a bad way. But yes, it hurt. The ending hurt, but in one of those it-hit-me-right-in-the-feels type way, and not that-made-me-uncomfortable type way. Okay, now I'm just rambling,

So while I am a sucker for a happy ending (there is a reason The Blue Castle is one of my favorite books), the ones that impact me the most are the ones that let me cry. The ones where I sob and sob and sob until my face is just a mess of tears and snot (The Book Thief, anyone?) are the ones that usually end up being my favorites. Because if I can connect so much that a fictional character can have that kind of impact on me, that author has something right going on.

Review of Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Rating: Four Heartbreaking Stars out of Five

I put this book down so many times, unsure if I would ever finish it. Frankly, while I am quite fond of historical fiction, many of the things Queenie wrote about was either too dull, too heartbreaking, or too horrifying. Usually it was the former, which was why even though it took me almost a month to get through this book, it only took me one day (today) to read the last half. But I mostly procrastinated.

Which is why I urge you, if you are considering reading this book, please stick around to at least page 215! That's asking a lot but once you're there, it is completely worth it! If you at least get to Maddie's point of view, it automatically gets better. Things starting making sense. Things start making sense in the most gut-wrenching and sob-inducing way possible.

Note: I will be referring to the main protagonist as Queenie, though her other main names include Verity and Julie.

This novel gets really confusing at points, especially with the switches from first person to third person, and the many different names and people that are mentioned. Although if you can persevere through all that, underneath is quite an elegant and moving story. The friendship between Maddie and Queenie is astonishingly beautiful, and I believe that this was one of the best books that focused purely on the intense, platonic love between the two. I was rooting for both characters to make it out of this novel alive, and I grew so close to Maddie in just the first portion of the novel, simply through Queenie's words and actions. Queenie was truly an amazing character, and if I had ever been in anything like the situation she was in, I wouldn't have been even a quarter as brave as she was.

Maddie was an equally strong character, and the firm way she deals with everything (especially all the discrimination because she was a female pilot, something uncommon at the time) was very admirable. Both friends were so strong and so caring, despite their horrible and unforgiving circumstances. Everything felt so genuine, especially all the codes and locations Queenie gave out. It was so real that at time, it became confusing. This truly doesn't even feel anything like a YA novel, and the plot twists really had my head spinning. Wein was so good at crafting plot twists that not only excited me, but even simultaneously horrified me.

It was quite difficult to get through this novel. It was painful, and I probably will never read it again because of that. And once I realized just how cunning Queenie was, it hurt even more. Code Name Verity was just such a strong and memorable novel, and I don't know any other way to describe it. 

Review of City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Before I get into my review, I want to tell you that I don't do this very often. Cassandra Clare is the first author in which I had to wait for her books to come out, or at least, the first author that I cared so much about that I would cry every time I see one of her books on my bookshelf. She is the first author that I have continuously stuck with throughout the years, which is why it took so long to write this review. But here it is--so enjoy!

Somehow, words just cannot express this book.

But I will make a courageous attempt to try, although I most likely will fall short from expressing just how much Cassandra Clare has changed my life. In short, this book was a phenomenal ending to an equally phenomenal series. It has brought me all the feels. 

But here comes the life story of how I got to meet Jace and Clary. You can skip it if you want:
I started reading YA half a decade before I would even turn 13. Yeah. I read Twilight when I was eight years old. I read The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo when I was ten. Both times, my English teachers were horrified and tried to yank the books out of my hands. But no--I was hooked! I started reading a ton of YA beginning in the summer before middle school, mostly due to the fact that I spent all my time in the library because my house had crappy air conditioning. 

That is when I began the City of Bones. I had never read anything quite like Cassandra Clare, an author who could invoke so many emotions that at points, I didn't even know the name of what I was feeling anymore. I fell in love with Jace. I learned with Clary. I laughed at Simon's jokes, and I lived among the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders. 

At this time, there were only three books in The Mortal Instruments. When I finished all of them, I was so satisfied and so utterly happy that I began crying. Yeah, I was quite the emotional reader even back then. I loved Cassandra Clare--but then, no! I found out that there was another book in the series, and I became horrified and scared of how she would ruin the happy ending.

At the end of City of Fallen Angels, I began crying once again (the librarians looked at me weird, but I was too enamored with the book) because she had ruined everything Or at least, that's what I told my ten year old self. I angrily ranted to my older sister (who just rolled her eyes, as she didn't even like City of Bones. I know, the horror) who told me to calm down. 

I calmed down. And waited. And waited. And waited and waited and waited for City of Lost Souls to come out. When I got it for my birthday, I skipped into my room and read the whole thing. And once again, Cassandra Clare launched me into another emotional roller coaster, and left me craving for more! So I waited and waited, and at this point, I even discovered The Infernal Devices. But at the time, there was only one book out. So I waited for both of the series to release the next book, and I cried and had book hangover and thought my life would never be complete.

Fast forward to the release of Clockwork Princess. Even though it had a stupid movie sticker that I just couldn't get off and even though I was spoiled by the (beautiful but spoiler-y) inside cover, I adored it more than anything. And obviously, as per being an emotional reader, I sobbed at the end (and the middle. And the beginning). Because that was the end of Will Herondale (is it a spoiler saying that he isn't immortal? I don't think so--I mean, all mortals die so...) who had become the epitome of my prince. Well obviously, he was Will Herondale. 

Now, fast forward to the release of City of Heavenly Fire
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So here's my actual review! Thanks for waiting/reading my thoughts as an emotional reader:
This series is now ingrained into my childhood, and I hope that one day, when I am an adult and the Dark Artifices will be finished, I can always tearfully look back and proclaim, "I am a Shadowhunter." Even though I can not claim the rune powers of Clary or Jace's fighting skills (or his death wish), I can always say that I lived beside them. They were my heroes--they were my friends. By just turning through the pages of City of Heavenly Fire, I get a taste of the many lives I have had as a reader.

But enough with the sentimentality. (And I know I've said this two times already, but this is the actual truth) Review time!

Cassandra Clare has created such a rich and poignant world, one that I will continue to never forget. City of Heavenly Fire was heartbreaking, but only in the best way that, as Cassandra Clare said, I would never trade for all the glitter in Magnus's loft. She is truly one of the most eloquent writers I know, and her ability to combine comedy with sadness is still astounding, even after spending years with her books. 
This was truly a satisfying attending to a brilliant series. There is a war, there is romance, there is death, and there is tragedy. But isn't that just Clare combing all aspects of human living, and making it into something we all can understand--fantasy? This is a book about sacrifice, about love, about everything that can make me start sobbing like a little baby so I'll just stop it right there. 

Something I continue to love about Cassandra Clare is how she can incorporate other worlds of Shadowhunter (ie: Tessa's world) with the modern one (Clary's world). Any mention of Will, yeah, I break down crying or giggling. When Tessa came, I cheered (and scared my neighbors because I was reading it on my front porch). And when Clary mentioned the Herondale family, I immediately burst out laughing, picturing Will's response to that. She has constructed these characters in a way that is so realistic, even amongst the werewolves and demon-hunters (ok, shadowhunters. Demon-hunters sounds cooler). 

It is because I can connect to these characters so well, despite having practically nothing in common with them, which is why I have continuously supported Cassie Clare's work. That's the reason I fangirl every time she answers a question about the shadowhuter world on tumblr--that is why I stalk her page and read the lengthy FAQ about the shadowhunter world, even though I already know everything.
I will not forget the Shadowhunter world, and I continue to miss Clary, Jace, Simon, Magnus, and every single living being that resides there. Thank you, Cassandra Clare, for this spectacular journey.

 You can also find this review on my Goodreads

Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets Review!

Okay, before I start this review, can I just say how absolutely beautiful this cover is? It's so simplistic and meaningful, exactly like the novel. It portrays it wonderfully. Also, stick around to see Jesse Andrews' review of this book (it's really hilarious and a major part of why I picked up this book in the first place)!

Anyways, here's my review for Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos :)

Actual rating: 4.35 stars

For a year, I've been seeing an imaginary therapist. Her name is Dr. Bird. She is a large pigeon, human-size. She wears no clothes. Because she's a bird. 

This is the type of person James Whitman is. He hugs trees and talks to Dr. Bird when he's feeling depressed. He is the type of person who memorizes Walt Whitman, likes to yawp, and risks his life to save injured animals from buses, even though sometimes those animals turn out to be Tastykake wrappers, and he turns out with a broken arm. He crushes on Beth, the president of the lit magazine that no one reads, and tries to write Whitman poetry like Whitman writes.

That is his quirkier side. He has a darker one, as does everyone.

I go up to the tree that has preexisted me and might outlive me. I press my arms around the trunk and feel the bites against my inner arms... and I think about anxiety and medication and worry about losing myself or sinking further into this kind of stupid behavior. I can't keep going on like this. 

He tries to distract himself from life, but sometimes life forces him to not be distracted. James wants to know why his sister was expelled, and he finds it difficult to live without her. He's plagued by guilt because all throughout his childhood, their parents (the Banshee and the Brute, as he nicknames them) beat her for things he had done, and he never thought would be discovered for. Every single time, his sister Jorie had taken the blame, until she had gotten expelled and then brutally kicked out of the house. 

Now, James is alone. He wants to know why because he thinks there must be a reason, as others have done what Jorie did and have only gotten suspended for a week.

This is the novel: a tale of James Whitman's song of self. It includes Beth (his crush), Derek (his kinda friend), Jorie (his sister), the Banshee and the Brute, and of course, Dr. Bird.

My thoughts: 

Evan Roskos' debut novel was absolutely hilarious and deep at the same time. His style of writing is one of ease, so it was exceedingly easy to fall deep into the story and not surface until it is finished. This novel was poignant and captivating, and James was the most eccentric (yet not completely crazy) main character that I've seen in a long time. This book tackles really serious issues in the best way possible, with a fucking barbaric yawwwwwwwwwwwwwpppppppp!

Sorry, I had to include that.

If you're still not convinced to at least give Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets a try, here's some small excerpts from around the novel:

Page one:I yawp most mornings to irritate my father, the Brute."Yawp! Yawp!" It moves him out of the bathroom faster.He responds with the gruff "All right." He dislikes things that seem fun

Page 26:I do not tell Dr. Bird I want to kill myself sometimes, but she knows. She's up in my head. She perches on the power lines of my thoughts
Page 148:I tell Derek that I had a great moment with Beth."A moment?""Yeah. More than a moment, but tere was a moment that was very important, I think.""Did she touch you where you pee?" he asks."Metaphorically.""I'm not sure how that even happens.""She said I didn't ruin her life." I feel like I'm bouncing up and down but I'm actually standing still. My heart's racing."Well, that's a good way to start a relationship: 'Hey, I didn't ruin your life. Let's date!'"

Please. This book was amazing.

Click to see this review on Goodreads!

If you've read all of that already, I just want to quote from Jesse Andrews' (the author of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl; Side Note: I really need to read that book too. Like now. I've seen so many good reviews on it) review of this spectacular novel:

"If you are someone who yawps, read this book. If you know someone who yawps, read this book. If you've been looking for a book that detonates the one incredible word yawp and spatters every molecule of its joy and grief and laughter across the New Jersey landscape, then you've found the book. If you are standing around reading this and thinking, 'I have no idea what yawping is,' then--come one, what are you doing? Read this book."

Once again, this section above in quotation marks isn't my review, it's Jesse Andrews :) I love it <3