The Four Agreements
by don Miguel Ruiz
- Nonfiction, Psychology, Self-Improvement
- 12+ for complex ideas and theories
- Published November 7, 1997 by Amber-Allen Publishing
- ★★★★★
Showing posts with label 5 stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5 stars. Show all posts
The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz
Escape From Asylum by Madeleine Roux
by Madeleine Roux
- Fiction, Horror, YA
- 13+ for mild violence
- Trigger Warning: violence, homophobia, transphobia
- Published June 14th, 2016 by Harper Collins
- ★★★★★
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
13 Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
- Fiction, Realistic Fiction, YA
- 13+ for complex themes and mature content
- Trigger Warning: suicide, sexual assault, rape, self-harm, bullying, adult content
- Published October 18th, 2007 by Razorbill
- ★★★★★
The Selection Series by Kiera Cass
by Kiera Cass
- Fiction, Coming of Age, Dystopian, Futuristic, Romance
- 11-20 age range
- published April 24th, 2012 by Harper Teens
- available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, AbeBooks
- Overall Rating ★★★★★
"For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined."-Goodreads
Overall Review
However, it is my absolute hate for ALL things romance that causes me to give the series four stars instead of five. I did love this book though and think all teenagers or others that love YA should read it. The writing was good, and most of the characters seemed relatable. Personally, I relate most to Eadlyn, a strong, independent, caring girl in line for the throne, that believes that men will slow her down or distract her from her duty. If you're looking for a book to read and you just can't decide, the Selection series should definitely be on your radar. No matter what it seems, this is not your average romance novel with girly girls who'll give up their life for someone they just met. (For goodness sake the first time America and Maxon meet America yells at him.) I wish I could be more like the strong independent, and brave women in this story. To be honest, I cried multiple times PER book, an impressive feat seeing as the only other book I've cried about is Allegiant.
Individual Ratings
*Spoilers ahead!! Read at your own risk.*
- Sturdy character development
- Relatable characters
- Interesting and unique plot
- Interesting plot
- Annoying love triangle *cue eye roll*
- (Mostly) Characters stay true to themselves
- Brave, independent heroine
- America stops being STUPID (Seriously America get a grip!)
- Shows the consequences of rebel attacks through main character deaths (I know it's sad, but do you want a Breaking Dawn situation where there's a lead up to a big battle only to end it with a handshake? Huh, HUH????)
- Shows that women can lead the country too (Go Eadlyn!!)
- Displays that no matter how good the cause, people won't change if they don't want to
- Eadlyn is a strong independent woman who doesn't need a man!
- (Eadlyn in general because she's my favorite character and I wish she was real because I would no doubt 150% be BFFs with her!!)
- True love is a force to be reckoned with (EW! Why must all good characters fall in love?!)
- Even the "best" people, can have ulterior motives (I'm looking at you Marid!)
- Some rules are made to be broken
Character List
*Spoilers ahead!! Read at your own risk.*
- America Schreave: Main character, wife of Maxon and mother of Eadlyn, Ahren, Kaden, and Osten, formally America Singer, formerly a 5
- Maxon Schreave: Beloved prince of Illéa, husband of America, father of Eadyln, Ahren, Kaden, and Osten, son of King Clarkson and Queen Amberly
- Aspen Leger: Ex-boyfriend of America, palace guard, wife of Lucy Leger, formally a 6, became a 2 when he became a guard
- Amberly Schreave: Queen of Illéa, wife of King Clarkson, mother of Maxon, formally a 4
- Clarkson Schreave: King of Illéa, husband to Queen Amberly, father of Maxon
- Eadlyn Schreave de Koskinen: First female heir of Illéa, daughter of America and Maxon, sister to Ahren, Kaden, and Osten, wife of Eikko
- Ahren Schreave: Husband to Camille, brother to Eadlyn, Kaden, and Osten
- Kile Woodwork: Selection participant, son of Marlee and Carter, brother to Josie
- Eikko Koskinen: Prince Consort of Illéa, husband of Eadlyn
"I am a graduate of Radford University with a B.S. in History. I grew up in South Carolina and currently live in Christiansburg, Virginia with my electrical engineer hubby, car-obsessed son, and princess-loving daughter. I'm a #1 New York Times bestseller, woohoo! I'm also a valued customer at my local cupcake shop.
Things I hate:
When people fail to use turn signals, flying, salads.
Things I love:
Office supplies, boy bands, desserts." Kiera Cass's Official Website
Diary of a Teenage Zombie by Kristy Berridge
by Kristy Berridge
- Fiction, Horror, Dystopian, Mature YA
- 15+ for mature content, violence, and cussing
- published September 8, 2014 by Shadow Ink Press
- available on Amazon, MineEye, Barnes & Noble, AbeBooks, etc.
- ★★★★★
"Dear Diary. Today I ate the mailman. My bad.Strengths
Being seventeen is hard―Katie Palmer has to deal with school, pimples, hormonal boys, and malicious cheerleaders. After the Zombie Apocalypse, though, she no longer sweats the usual teenage drama.
Athletics star by day and flesh-eater by night, Katie’s done well to hide her transformation from friends and Zone-sanctioned security, but now someone or something’s onto her secret and if she doesn’t feed soon she’ll start falling apart.
Dead bodies are piling up and all the evidence points to Katie’s blood-stained hands. Will she end up killing the competition before security discovers she’s rotten underneath?"-Kristy Berrige's Blog
Characters
The characters are strongly built and realistic. (Besides the whole zombie thing!) Katie acts like a normal teenage girl struggling to fit in. Haven't we all had rumors spread about us? Or been teased? I know I have! Berridge brings these fictional characters to life.
Intensity
Diary of a Teenage Zombie is the perfect blend of action and description! Berridge knows when to keep the action going and when to slow down and describe the scene a little more. This is a quality that more authors should use in their writing.
Originality
I've never read anything like this book! A soda infecting a whole race, almost to extinction. Who could've guessed that? Not to mention the way that the zombies live among them unknown!
Writing
The writing is good throughout the whole book. I did find a couple of errors, but they were barely noticeable. The reading level changes as Katie goes along, I believe this is to show how she ages and her knowledge expands.
Weaknesses
The Ending
The ending was MY weakness! It had nothing to do with Berridge. She completed a great book with a perfect ending. A cliffhanger again! Why do these authors keep doing this? I really hope there's a next book. If there isn't, I might cry!
Author Bio
"Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1982, Kristy Berridge was ushered into the world in a decade of bad hair, parachute pants, and blue eye shadow. Fortunately, she managed to avoid all three influences by immersing herself in the business of growing up, and hitched a ride with her fun-loving and adventure-filled parents to the sunny state of Queensland. Here she completed most of her education.
Besides learning that boys don't have cooties, and that algebra wouldn't kill her, she pointedly set
the path of her high school career towards success in Art and English-based subjects, and won numerous awards for her efforts.After high school she went on to study Graphic Design and Illustration at James Cook University, and then furthered her studies at the local TAFE College with an Interior Design course. With this knowledge under her belt, she also decided to undertake a three year Design course at Rhodec International in London, to complete her education and propel her towards the successful career she now enjoys.
She currently resides in Cairns, procrastinates constantly, and tries desperately to avoid the delicious temptation that is the peanut butter aisle at the supermarket."-Amazon
Also by Kristy Berridge
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
- Book 1/3 in the Rebel Belle Series
- Published April 8, 2014
- 353 pages
- 12+ years
- ★★★★★
"Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts. Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.
With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more."-Amazon
The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic
Published: January 8, 2014 by Clockpunk Press
First edition: September 13, 2012 by Steampunk Press
Interest Level: 13+
"Melanie Karsak is the author of the Amazon best-selling steampunk series The Airship Racing Chronicles, the award-winning horror/dark fantasy Harvesting Series, and The Saga of Lady Macbeth. She grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania and earned a Master's degree in English from Gannon University. A steampunk connoisseur, white elephant collector, Shakespeare nerd, and zombie whisperer, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College."-Melaniekarsak.com
I give The Harvesting 5/5 stars for great writing and a unique plot. It had me gripping the edge of my seat. With a variety of paranormal creatures, from vampires to shadow creatures, and a unique twist on zombies, no stone was left unturned. Many people classify it as zombie story, but it's so much more. It's vampires, post-apocalyptic, and could even be considered a coming-of-age story. In the end, I got so much more than I expected. I can't wait to read The Shadow Aspect the second story in The Harvesting Trilogy.
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