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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The Family

Ed Sanders wrote The Family for us to grasp the entirety of The Manson Family. He retells us about the gruesome murders, while giving us insight into what the Family was thinking that very night. We learn all about life on the ranch and life on the run. Keep in mind, I have also read Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi. These two novels show us a few different sides to the Family. Helter Skelter shows how cruel and vicious they truly were. It also takes place more in the courthouse than within the actual Family. The Family, however, tells us their tales. A little known fact about Ed Sanders, he spent time with the Family. They welcomed him and told him their tales. They thought being with him would make him even more famous. For the most part, they trusted him. Not to mention, Squeaky and Gypsy made Sanders a shirt for coming to sing with them on the ranch. Sanders has more information on the trials and the Family than anyone else. He also has the biggest Manson "shrine" so to speak. In all honesty, Sanders is an old hippie. We catch on to that early in the book, due to the phrases he uses. The Family is a quick read if you are truly interested.. Otherwise, it is kind of slow and hard to understand at parts. But this book did have some things in it that were not in Helter Skelter, almost giving us a full understanding of the Family. Lets face it, we'll never really know what was going through their heads those few years.

Looking for other books on Charles Manson?
The Girls
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Sunday, October 27, 2013

Allegiant

I think I'm in love with this book. 

Allegiant is written from two different points of view, Tris AND Tobias. Our journey starts with Tris, awaiting her trial. Tobias is forbidden to see her because of his mother, Evelyn, the leader of the factionless. But of course, we know he's going to talk to Tris. Soon enough, the unexpected happens. There's a rebel group called Allegiant forming. They are dead set against the factionless and Evelyn. They want to send some of the Divergent into the city. Tris is invited to join, and in turn tells Tobias about it. A small group is chosen to go to the city, including the two of them. Arriving in the city, they come across Tobias's Dauntless leader. Another twist, everyone in the city knows Tris's mother. But how could that be? The government leader gives Tris her mother's old journal, giving her only a few answers and a lot more questions. Soon after, the greatest twist of ever happens. TOBIAS TURNS ON TRIS. He joins the rebellion group within the government! Not realizing the terrible plans that he was a part of. In turn, Tris starts ANOTHER rebellion group, using the plans from the first group and improving them. There's so much that happens, and I left A LOT out. But this whole review would be spoilers. 

Lets just put it this way:
I cried.
I hated Tobias, just to love him again.
I cried again.
I hated my life.
I cried some more.
I felt like my whole life was built on lies.
Oh, did I mention I cried?

All in all, very VERY well done Veronica. 

Looking for the rest of the series?
Divergent (Divergent #1)
Insurgent (Divergent #2)
Four (Divergent #4)

Looking for other books by Veronica Roth?
Carve the Mark (CTM #1)
The Fates Divide (CTM #2)
The End and Other Beginnings
Chosen Ones
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Monday, October 21, 2013

Every Day

Ever wonder what it would be like to be someone different everyday? Well, this guy does. He can be Kimberly, or Michael, or Jose, or Rhiannon, or any other person. But here's the catch, he only stays in their body for one day. Every day starts out the same, waking up and discovering who he is today. Just going day by day, learning and discovering new things, only wondering what awaits him tomorrow. One day, he wakes up in the body of Justin. He meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon, and falls in love with her. He knows Justin isn't good to her, but he could be. He lets her see what Justin could be like. She falls in love with him all over again. Too bad it's not really Justin. "A" wants to show Rhiannon what happens to him everyday, thinking he could finally let someone see the real person he is. There is so much to this book, I don't know how to explain without giving away spoilers. I never expected half the stuff in this book to happen. Please, please, PLEASE read this amazing book and give me some feedback! It definitely pulled on my heartstrings, and I would love to talk about it!
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Friday, September 27, 2013

Empty

 
What would the world be like without fossil fuels? In Empty, Suzanne Weyn introduces us to the small town of Sage Valley. We see first hand how crazy the world would be without oil. Oil is a non-renewable resource that we never really expected to run out of. Without oil, cars cannot get around, boats can't run, and the truckers can't come deliver food or any other necessities of life. It makes the reader feel as if it's the end of the world. Everything is rundown and a complete mess.. I haven't talked about the characters very much, because they aren't near as important. But, Gwen's brother, Luke, is selling black market oil. He stashes the oil cans in the house, causing it to catch fire. Due to their family problems, Gwen runs off to a mine shaft they played in as kids. She finds an extremely up-to-date eco-friendly house. However, during the oil shortage super-hurricane, OscPearl, hits Sage Valley and the other towns extremely hard. People and towns are fighting each other for food. Gwen decides they need to help. The angry civilians break into the house and eventually get arrested. The characters really didn't do anything for me. But the idea of running out of fossil fuels terrifies me. This really opened my eyes to how badly our environment needs us. 

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Monday, September 23, 2013

Smoke

In Smoke, we pick back up with Pattyn on the run and Jackie is trying to forget that night. Pattyn makes friends with a Hispanic girl on the subway. They help each other get through the train ride, and eventually the girl and her family takes Pattyn under their wing. They help her get a job, and find love once again. Hopping back to Jackie's story, she is trying to cope with moving into a new house and dealing with her ex-boyfriend/rapist Caleb. Jackie thinks her mother is being inconsiderate having Caleb and his father at the house all the time. She confronts Caleb at school one day and threatens to tell everyone what he really did to her. After he pushes her down, Gavin comes to the rescue. We learn all about Gavin and his two mothers. He loves Jackie, and Jackie just might love him too. Pattyn on the other hand is trying to very hard to hold onto Ethan. But could she really love her new friend's brother, Angel? I could keep going, but it would literally ruin the story. 
If anyone would like to talk one-on-one with me about the book, I would be MORE than happy to! This book left me with my jaw hanging open at some parts and I would love to know if any of you felt the same way. :)

Looking for more books by Ellen Hopkins?
 
Middle-Grade:

Teen:

Adult Fiction:

 Anthologies:
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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Burned

It's been a good couple of years since I first read Burned. So bear with me, I'm a little bit fuzzy on the exact details of the book. But here goes nothing! Burned is where we meet the Von Stratten family. Good ole Johnny Black is part of the family as well. They were raised to be a perfect little mormon family. Life couldn't be better having 7 girls running around the house. This story is told through Pattyn's and Jackie's eyes. Pattyn is the oldest and is slowly realizing how disturbing the LDS Community really is. She begins experimenting with alcohol and gets herself involved with boys. When her father finds out, he beats her and then sends her off to her Aunt J's ranch. Pattyn found true love with a boy named Ethan. While she's away, her mother is pregnant with her eighth child and cannot take a beating from her husband every day. The next oldest sister, Jackie, now becomes the center of attention.  Eventually, Pattyn becomes pregnant. Her father obviously would never approve of that. Suddenly, Ethan and Pattyn are in a car crash. This kills Ethan and causes Pattyn to lose the baby. Pattyn vows to avenge Ethan's death and plans to kill her father. Skipping back to Jackie's side of the story, she "fell in love" with a boy named Caleb. She just wanted to find love the same way Pattyn did. She didn't know that Caleb wouldn't stop when she said no. The end of the book is a complete surprise. Pattyn shows up as Jackie is getting a beating. Then, shots were fired...

Looking for more books by Ellen Hopkins?
 
Middle-Grade:

Teen:

Adult Fiction:

 Anthologies:
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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Divergent


Divergent, one choice can transform you. Let's meet the factions. We have Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Erudite, and Dauntless. Each of these factions rely on each other to live. The kids within each faction have to take an aptitude test when they turn 16. This test gives you two choices, the faction they're already in or a faction they can switch to. However, Beatrice Prior, got three. This makes her divergent. Being divergent is a good thing and a very, very, very bad thing. Her brother, Caleb, leaves Abnegation for Erudite. Beatrice also leaves Abnegation, but for Dauntless. She takes on the new identity of Tris. She is fearless. During the initiation, they go through different hardships and trainings. While there, she gets her first tattoo, and her very first kiss. She falls in love with Four, the one training them. Not to mention, all hell breaks loose when Erudite starts using transmitters to control most of the Dauntless. They open fire on innocents in Abnegation, and start a war of factions.

Looking for the rest of the series?
Insurgent (Divergent #2)
Allegiant (Divergent #3)
Four (Divergent #4)

Looking for other books by Veronica Roth?
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