Review: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (The Penderwicks #2), by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (The Penderwicks #2)
By Jeanne Birdsall
Publication Date: April 8th, 2008 (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Hardcover, 320 pages
Genre: Childrens; Realistic Fiction;
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

The Penderwick sisters are home on Gardam Street and ready for an adventure! But the adventure they get isn't quite what they had in mind. Mr. Penderwick's sister has decided it's time for him to start dating—and the girls know that can only mean one thing: disaster.

Enter the Save-Daddy-Plan—a plot so brilliant, so bold, so funny, that only the Penderwick girls could have come up with it. But in the meantime, they have some other problems to deal with. Rosalind can't seem to get the annoying Tommy Geiger out of her hair—and she can't stand him, really. Skye loses her temper on the soccer field in a most undignified manner. Jane's love of creative writing leads her into deep waters. And Batty's getting into mischief spying on the new next-door neighbor. As for Hound, he's always in trouble.

It's high jinks, big laughs, and loads of family warmth as the Penderwicks triumphantly return!

—from the book's dust jacket

REVEIW:

Jeanne Birdsall, one of my favorite authors.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is the sequel to the first book in The Penderwicks Series, The Penderwicks: A Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, which won the National Book award for Young People's Literature in 2005.

You'll fall in love with main characters Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty all over again, and I'm so speechless that I can't really say much else about this unique book.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street had this utterly timeless feeling, just like the first one. In other words, even though I'm only seventeen, I know I'll be reading The Penderwicks to my children before they go to bed (and it will be accompanied with milk tea and a warm slice of honey lavender loaf). The Penderwicks: A Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, the first Penderwick book, was better than The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, but not by a long shot.

Twice I've read a Penderwick book, and twice I've never wanted to leave the Penderwick dominion. I want to live for all and eternity in The Penderwick book. Once again, I was so upset when The Penderwicks on Gardam Street ended, and once again, I never wanted to finish it because it was so perfect, enchanting, and whimsical. 

Lovers of Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery, or Little Woman, by Louisa May Alcott will be delighted with any Penderwicks book.

RATING:

Review: Then (Once #2), by Morris Gleitzman

Then (Once #2)
By Morris Gleitzman
Publication Date: March 1st, 2008 (Puffin Books)
Hardcover, 198 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction; Holocaust; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION (WHICH CONTAINS SPOILERS TO THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES, ONCE; SO, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ONCE, DON'T READ THIS  BOOK DESCRIPTION):

Felix and Zelda have escaped the train to the death camp, but where to they go now? They're two runaway kids in Nazi-occupied Poland. Danger lies at every turn of the road.

With the help of a woman named Genia and their active imaginations, Felix and Zelda find a new home and begin to heal, forming a new family together. But can it last?

Morris Gleitzman's winning characters will tug at readers' hearts as they struggle to survive in the harsh political climate of Poland in 1942. Their lives are difficult, but they always remember what matters: family, love, and hope.

—from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

The Once Trilogy—and especially this book, Then—is a gazillion times more heartbreaking than The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. 

Then, is told by Felix, a ten-year-old Jewish boy, who is reminiscent of—but not as clueless as—Bruno from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (however, I guess Felix being less clueless of the Holocaust than Bruno makes sense, since Felix is a Jewish boy living through the horror, and Bruno is a Nazi officer's son, sheltered from most of the violence). The plot follows Felix as he struggles to take care of and protect his friend/adopted sister, Zelda.

As much as I love Felix, he is a bit naive and that's something I don't really tolerate in main characters, especially in Holocaust fiction. When the main character comes across a pit of dead children, all twisted and tangled up together, his first though shouldn't be "They're all sleeping together," even if he first thinks this when he is not up close to the child-body pit. 

Zelda was a lot more ignorant, but since she was only six-years-old, her ignorance gets a sort of pass. Zelda was strong-willed and ill-tempered most of the time. Her trademark saying is "Don't you know anything?" and this is usually what she snaps at Felix. Because of her quarrelsome nature, the tender moments she had with Felix made her lovable in her own way.

I may have loved Felix and Zelda, but Amon was my favorite favorite favorite character, even though he wasn't highlighted in Then very often. The parts that he was in introduced me to a very caring and sympathetic person, and I hope to see him in the next book in the Once Series, Now.

Then, by Morris Gleitzman was tragic and beautiful, and I can't wait to read the next book, Now.

RATING:

Review: Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1), by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1)
By Laurie Faria Stolarz
Publication Date: December 16th, 2008 (Hyperion)
Hardcover, 252 pages
Genre: Paranormal; Mystery; Romance; Suspense; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfirned's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help—but can he be trusted? She know he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret.

—from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

Here is a tasty morsel of what is to happen between the pages of Deadly Little Secret:

You walk into you bedroom one day after school. You find the the window was up, only you didn't remember opening it before you went to school. You turn to your mirror...and scrawled on it is the word "bitch" in blood red lipstick...you know someone has been watching you...following you...but who?

And suspenseful tastes like the one above, dear reader, is what will keep you reading Deadly Little Secret, by Laurie Faria Stolarz. Deadly Little Secret is the first book in a series of five, known as "Touch Novels." I'm wishy-washy at the moment about whether I'm going to finish the series. Why? I didn't find the plot—especially the writing style—very interesting or engaging. 

While I didn't find the writing style or plot special (it was mediocre), a few redeeming points in the book sparkled. The dialogue between the characters rocked; it was humorous, especially when Camelia's friends Kimmie and Wes were talking, which was most of the book (yay). Speaking of Kimmie and Wes, you'll wish you had friends like them and you'll go head-over-heals for their personalities. Also, the mystery of who was stalking Camelia was a page-turning factor. 

It's safe to say, however, that I hated Camelia. She has to be one of the worst. Heroines. Ever. Seriously, she does nothing whatsoever except make some bowls at a local art studio.

Deadly Little Secret was basically Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick—which is essentially like Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer—except Hush, Hush (especially) and Twilight (not so much) are a billion times better written. Even Camelia's best friend, Kimmie, reminded me of the Hush, Hush main character's best friend, Vee.

SO, if you liked Twilight or Hush, Hush (or if you're like me and love funny dialogue and lovable characters), you'd enjoy Deadly Little Secret, by Laurie Faria Stolarz.

RATING:

Review: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (The Penderwicks #1), by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (The Penderwicks #1)
By Jeanne Birdsall
Publication Date: March 15th, 2004 (Yearling)
Hardcover, 262 pages
Genre: Childrens; Realistic Fiction;
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel's sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the best discovery of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel's owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures.

The icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffrey is, though, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Which, of course, they will—won't they? One thing's for sure: it will be a summer the Penderwicks will never forget . 

Deliciously nostalgic and quaintly witty, this is a story as breezy and carefree as a summer day.

—from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

The Penderwicks is one of the best children's books you'll ever read in your entire life! Finishing it was so sad and I was sure to make the last chapter as slow as I possibly could, but another side of me wanted to know what would happen in the end, and that impatient side won. The ending of The Penderwicks was heartwarming and very filling.

Not only children, but any dreamy, sentimental reader can easily relate and sympathize with the five main characters. There's Rosalind, twelve-years-old and has a crush on the seventeen-year-old landscaper at Arundel Manor; Skye, who's bold (and perhaps a bit foolhardy) personality hungers for adventure, getting her into loads of trouble; Jane, an aspiring author who must find the confidence within to believe in herself; and Batty, the youngest of the Penderwicks who is painfully shy. 

And of course there's also Jeffrey Tifton (not a Penderwick), who wants to study music but who's mother wants him to persue a different study (like so many of teenager's parents). I found Jeffrey the most relatable out of all of the characters because of the heartbreaking situation with his unsupportive mother.

The action in The Penderwicks is few and shouldn't be called "action" necessarily; rather, it should be called "events," which include running from a bull and a loose-animal chasing.

There was a certain kind of whimsically magical feeling about the summer setting that was so appealing to me, and surely will be to other sentimental readers. The Penderwicks proves that a book doesn't have to include wizards, witches, vampires, or werewolves to be magical or compelling.

In fact, The Penderwicks was a break from all of that sometimes-junk.

The chapters were medium-sized and the print was big. The writing was fresh nostalgic of older children's classics. Also, at times the writing was witty, while serious at other times. The writer knew exactly what the characters should say and it flowed.

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy was a heart-warming, adorable story about the bonds of friendship and the trials families go through.

RATING:

Review: Tiger Lily, by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily
By Jodi Lynn Anderson
Publication Date: July 3rd, 2012 (Harper Collins Children's Books)
Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Retelling; Fantasy; Romance; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair...

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seemed doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, and English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Peaches" comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.

-from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

Positives:

• Pine Sap (male) and Moon Beam (female), Tiger Lily's friends, were likable because they were the opposite of Tiger Lily's hardness and indifference: they were compassionate, steadfast, trustworthy daydreamers. I found relating to them easier than relating to Tiger Lily. 
• Also, I like how the author, Jodi Lynn Anderson, characterizes Wendy a stupid, and clueless dodo bird. It almost makes sense when you think about it.

Negatives:

• The book was incredibly, painstakingly slow. When I had about 100 pages left, I almost quit reading it because I was so bored.
• The book was written from Tinker Bell's perspective, the mute fairy, and while virtually telling the story from the point of view of a bystander was a novel (Ha ha. A pun) idea, it didn't work. The point of view was irritating, and added to the slow pace.
• I was a fan of the main character, Tiger Lily, at first. She was fierce and brave, but then, as the book slowly (and I mean really, really slowly) continued, I found that Tiger Lily didn't show any emotions whatsoever. I wanted her to be a bit more dynamic, especially in the aspects of showing compassion and other benevolent emotions. Heck, I wished she showed any emotion at all! A rock probably has more feelings than Tiger Lily, and after I figured this out, I could care less whether she died, or sat around and did nothing.
• I refuse whole-heartedly to acknowledge that thing in the book as Peter Pan, because of a whole bunch of things Tiger Lily got wrong (these are not spoilers and are safe for the eyes of readers who have not read the book and plan on reading it):

1. PETER PAN DOES NOT, NOR WILL HE EVER, HAVE A GIRLFRIEND! (well, he gets one in Tiger Lily)
2. PETER PAN DOES NOT "MAKE OUT" WITH ANYONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMATANCES! (he does this a few times in Tiger Lily)
3. PETER PAN IS NOT/WILL NOT BE FIFTEEN/SIXTEEN/SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD! EVER! (Peter Pan is somewhere around this age in Tiger Lily)
4. PETER PAN CAN FLY AND IS MAGICAL! (there was nothing—NOTHING—magical about Peter Pan or his Lost Boys)

And that's not all. I could tell you a whole bunch of other unjust things, but they're spoilers and I don't want to ruin it. :)

I'm sure my unhealthy love of everything Peter Pan blinded me when I was writing this review, and perhaps someone who's not a hard-core Pan Fan would enjoy this book, but I'm a Peter Pan fangirl (being honest) and I have to say...

Why, cruel, cruel world, would you do this to Peter Pan?! 

ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY FLY INTO NEVERLAND AND TREAT PETER PAN THIS WAY!

NON-PETER PAN CRAZED FAN RATING (Who am I kidding? I'm biased):

PETER PAN HYPER-FAN (SUCH AS MYSELF) RATING:

Nerdrobe: Priori Incanfandom T-Shirt

Priori Incanfandom
$18.00

I know it's hard to tell, but it's Harry Potter (left) facing off against Dr. Who (right). No offense, fellow HP lovers, but I'm going to have to side with Dr. Who on this battle. I'm sorry, but I'm a Whovian first.

Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
By John Boyne
Publication Date: January 1st, 2006 (David Fickling Books)
Hardcover, 218 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction; Holocaust; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Berlin, 1942

When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall sense running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy named Shmuel whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

-from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

First Thoughts: I'm heartbroken, but that wasn't completely depressing.

Second Thoughts: If Bruno is suppose to be nine-years-old, why does he act like he's five? :(

Bruno is not simply "naive" or "ignorant"—he's stupid and self-centered, and it rubbed me the wrong way. I don't think nine-year-olds could be this ignorant. Shmuel, the Jewish boy, is also pretty ignorant, and if there is one nine-year-old who acts like a six-year-old who should know what's going on, it's Shmuel. Still, I pitied him more than being annoyed, because of...well, you know. :(

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is written in a sort of fairy tale style way, which contrasts with the horrible facts of what happened during the Halocaust. And even though the story takes place during WWII, violence is never described. Because it is from Bruno's "naive" perspective, nothing is ever bluntly said about the violence, but it's mildly suggested: bruises, cuts, soldiers pushing Jewish children around and laughing, some of which the reader has to draw their own conclusion on.

Final Thoughts: What a beautiful and heartbreaking story about the bonds of friendship and the boarders it crosses.

RATING:

Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Triology #1), by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1)
By Leigh Bardugo
Publication Date: June 5th, 2012 (Henry Holt and Co.)
Hardcover, 358 pages
Genre: Fantasy; Romance; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Alina Starkov doesn't expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, the one thing she could rely on was her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they're sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. Ripped from everything she knows, she is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member to the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the one person with the power to destroy the Fold.

Swept up in a world of luxury and illusion, envied as the Darkling's favorite, Alina struggles to fit into her new life without Mal by her side. But as the threat to the kingdom mounts, Alina uncovers a secret that sets her on a collision course with the most powerful forces in the kingdom. Now only her past can save her...and only she can save the future.

—from the book's dust jacket

REVIEW:

Hmm, difficult. VERY difficult. Plenty of courage, laced throughout your pages, I see. Not a bad plot, either. There's talent, oh yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you, Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo. Better be...

FIVE STARS!

*furious applause from all of the other books*

(Sorry, but I couldn't resist that Harry Potter reference.)

Woo hoo hoo hoo hoo. Shadow and Bone was AMAZING! What a rush, man. What a rush.

How do I start praising this book?

There's never a dull moment in Shadow and Bone. It's a no-brainer that getting attacked by Volca (these bird-like monsters with gray arms, leathery wings, and think talons) is heart-racing. But what's really spectacular is that the author, Leigh Bardugo, can keep moments like Alina being pampered and literally worshipped lively by adding conflict and A LOT of underlying tension (including romantic tension) that gently prods at the reader' scommon sense and makes them think think twice. Just when the reader would think the clouds are finally clearing for Alina...BAM! Something the reader doesn't anticipate smacks them right in the face!

And oh my goodness. The characters are swoon-worthy. Alina is the Harry Potter of Ravka (Ravka being the kingdom where the book takes place): she's a pure-hearted orphan from humble beginnings that has undiscovered powers, powers she's so convinced she doesn't have. Mal, Alina's handsome and charismatic childhood best friend, is completely oblivious of Alina. Other characters include Genya, the Tailor; Baghra, the Grisha trainer; Botkin Yul-Erdene, the combat trainer; "friends" of Alina, Marie and Nadia; and Zoya, the mean-girl, green with envy. Then of course there's the mysterious, powerful, seductive, and beautiful Darkling.

The only problem you might have is getting into it. I've heard some readers say the beginning was confusing, but this is only because the author is talented enough not to spew information at the reader. Information about the Grisha, the Shadow Fold, and the world of Ravka is gradually picked up by the reader. Also, the kingdom of Ravka is like Russia in it's customs and language. Some people, such as myself, feel the urge to look up every single unfamiliar word: What is "kvass," a "troika," and a "samovar"? I had to stop to translate. There's a bit of Mongolia also, but I didn't know that until Leigh Bardugo thanked a man who translated things into Mongolia for him in her Acknowledgements.

But I'd say the safe-zone is around chapters 3 and 4. Past those chapters and Shadow and Bone is a guaranteed hook.


HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, SO READ IT.

RATING:

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1), by Mary E. Pearson

The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1)
By Mary E. Pearson
Publication Date: April 29th, 2008 (Henry Holt and Co.)
Hardcover, 266 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi; Dystopia; Mystery; Romance; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?

-from goodreads.com

REVIEW: 

I really enjoyed Jenna as a character. She was quite fiery in her own way. She didn't need a sword to run people through with or blackmail she could hold people to—just her stinging wit, curiosity, and super intelligence. I never really pitied her for certain things, and maybe I should have, but I wasn't feeling it. However, I did feel sympathetic towards Jenna when her sour relationship with her grandmother, Lily, the person she loved best, was highlighted through many part in the book.

In The Adoration of Jenna Fox, things are described as if Jenna is observing them for the first time, and it's written in a vaguely dream-like and reflective style, which I found I liked a lot.

The plot chugged along slowly, but the questions Jenna asked and the things she said provoked deep thought and reflection on the reader's part. The Adoration of Jenna Fox questions medical ethics most openly, but there are other undertones of themes in there. Also, the mystery of not only who Jenna Fox is, but what she is snags any reluctant reader and keeps them reading until the last page.

RATING:

Review: Dark Water, by Laura McNeal

Dark Water
By Laura McNeal
Publication Date: September 10th, 2010 (Alfred A. Knopf)
Hardcover, 287 pages
Genre: Contemporary; Romance; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Fifteen-year old Pearl DeWitt and her mother live in Fallbrook, California, where it's sunny 340 days of the year , and where her uncle owns a grove of 900 avocado trees. Uncle Hoyt hires migrant workers regularly, but Pearl doesn't pay much attention to them...until Amiel. From the moment she sees him, Pearl is drawn to this boy who keeps to himself, fears being caught by la migra, and is mysteriously unable to talk. And after coming across Amiel's makeshift hut near Agua Prieta Creek, Pearl falls into a precarious friendship—and a forbidden romance.

Then the wildfires strike. Fallbrook—the town of marigolds and palms, blood oranges and sweet limes—is threatened by the Agua Prieta fire, and a mandatory evacuation order is issued. But Pearl knows that Amiel is right in the path of the fire, with no one to wan him, no way to get out. Slipping away from the safety and her family, Pearl moves towards the creek, where the smoke has become air, the air smoke.

-from goodreads.com

REVIEW: 

When I read the synopsis, I expected a story about the undying, star-crossed love of an illegal migrant worker, Amiel, and his employer's niece, Pearl. I anticipated a bunch of things to happen based on this but none of them came true because what started off as star-crossed love was twisted by the author, Laura McNeal, resulting a in a unique and offbeat (in a good way) story.

Even though Dark Water wasn't what I was expecting, I was pleasantly surprised when the book turned out to be so much more than a romance—in fact, it was mostly a story about family.

Still, I feel like the book description is a essentially a synopsis of Dark Water; not much more than what the book description says happened, besides a few fillers and a bitter ending. When I think about the way the description gives the whole story away, it makes me wonder if the story is even suppose to be about Pearl and Amiel...

Pearl's personality was unique and reflected the decisions she made when conflict arose, but I don't feel like she changed any. I liked Amiel best though, mostly because his character was different from the YA romance fiction I've read where the male love interest is (in short) a sensitive jerk (which makes no sense to me). Amiel was quiet, broken, and compassionate, which equals lovable in my calculations.

If you read this, don't expect a big soap opera where Amiel is almost deported, but Pearl marries him to keep him in The United States, and they live happily ever after, because this isn't that story. 

Dark Water is, more than anything, about the price of foolishness.

RATING: