A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Title: A Need So Beautiful
Author: Suzanne Young
Pages: 272
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publication Date: June 21, 2011
Source: ARC from Publisher for Review
Official TUBL Rating: A

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Intense and emotional, A Need So Beautiful captures the very crux of beautiful writing. It's a stunningly-woven story that will elicit so much emotion from the reader. Young sets the book in a contemporary environment, letting readers relate to Charlotte in a way despite the paranormal ordeal that she goes through. The concept of The Need is beautiful but nonetheless a little painful. In the novel, Young plays with the idea of light and dark and good vs. evil but the originality enhances the whole plot.

Charlotte is down-to-earth and ordinary (despite The Need). Her perspective is brimming with a sense of isolation and secrecy because she can't share her secret; not even with the person she loves most. Every time The Need overcomes her, the readers will also feel that ultimate compulsion that Charlotte regularly feels. Charlotte's narrative oozes with her caring personality but it also has that hysteria and secretive air to it because of The Need.

Harlin's relationship with Charlotte is intense and fiery. And because they are already together, their interactions with each other are so much more authentic. Harlin isn't a prop or merely a love interest; he pushes the plot and ultimately enhances the tension in A Need So Beautiful. But even so, their romance does not dominate; instead, it creates a sort of equilibrium with the myth-heavy plot.

A Need So Beautiful is truly heartbreaking and bittersweet. It is both utterly stunning and horrifying to see Charlotte make the sacrifices, especially with the raw, pure love that she feels with Harlin. A Need So Beautiful closes with a devastatingly striking ending of understanding and finally, acceptance.

The Bottom Line: Beautiful. Just beautiful and sad.

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The Beautiful Between by Alyssa Sheinmel

Title: The Beautiful Between
Author: Alyssa Sheinmel
Pages: 192
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 11, 2010

If high school were a fairy-tale kingdom, Connelly Sternin would be Rapunzel, locked not in a tower by a wicked witch but in a high-rise apartment building by the SATs and college applications—and by the secrets she keeps. Connelly's few friends think that her parents are divorced—but they're not. Connelly's father died when she was two, and she doesn't know how.

If Connelly is the Rapunzel of her school, Jeremy Cole is the crown prince, son of a great and rich New York City family. So when he sits down next to her at lunch one day, Connelly couldn't be more surprised. But Jeremy has a tragic secret of his own, and Connelly is the only one he can turn to for help. Together they form a council of two, helping each other with their homework and sharing secrets. As the pair's friendship grows, Connelly learns that it's the truth, not the secrets, that one must guard and protect. And that between friends, the truth, however harsh, is also beautiful.

Connelly's father's death is a mystery for her and as she is continuously kept in the dark, she chooses to search for answers on her own. She meets Jeremy, her prince charming, but all is not what they appear. He has his own life filled with a tragic secret. Together, they must overcome their problems and finally find their own happiness.

Alyssa Sheinmel writes an evocative story filled with hope, love, friendship, and grief that grasps the concept of death, and familial problems through Sheinmel's consistently beautiful, yet simple prose. In an elitist setting, filled with characters that have money and status, Sheinmel peels out the deep, raw problems of the very wealthy by breaking that façade of unemotional ignorance that elite people seem to have.

Seemingly impervious, Jeremy's secrets are told through his growing friendship with Connelly who also has the mystery of her father's death to deal with. Their relationship is slowly but thoroughly developed and their problems bring them closer to each other as they try to cope and overcome their dilemmas. Both characters are solidified with their unique perceptions and palpable emotions along with significant relationships with themselves and their family and friends.

The concept of fairytale versus reality is reiterated through constant fairytale analogies that gives The Beautiful Between a dream-like tone and captures the essence of the concept of fairytale and reality. It adds a more personal touch to the atmosphere and makes it more compelling and refreshing. Here, the idea of a 'beautiful between' is symbolized as the middle of fantasy and reality; Connelly lives quite a fancy, fairytale-like life, but it is contrasted by her problems that is pulling her into reality as well.

The Beautiful Between is a meaningful, and beautiful book that will touch your heart. The depth of the characters and the gravity of their problems and situations are thoroughly and expertly explained in such a short span of words. The Beautiful Between is a concise, thoughtful read filled with immense clarity and perception that will keep readers pondering and really look at their own 'beautiful between'. A =)

The Bottom Line: A quick read full of many meaningful messages.

---Field Report---
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 8/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 8/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 93/100 (A)

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The Clearing by Heather Davis

Title: The Clearing
Author: Heather Davis
Pages: 228
Publisher: Graphia
Publication Date: April 12, 2010

Amy, a sixteen-year-old recovering from an abusive relationship, moves to the country to start a new life with her aunt–all she wants is for everything to be different. In the clearing at the back of Aunt Mae’s property, she makes an amazing discovery—Henry, a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. Henry and his world become Amy’s refuge and she begins to learn that some moments are worth savoring. But when the past and present come crashing together, both of them must find the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.

Recovering from an abusive relationship, Amy goes to her great aunt Mae's house to run from her problems and start anew. When she discovers Henry's life on the other side of the clearing, she is immediately drawn to his world and the inexplicable connection they share. But their relationship might not last; for Henry's situation may be far too complicated to hold their bond. Their hearts are on the line and their feelings for each other are quickly growing. It may be too late to avoid heartache.

The Clearing is a beautiful, bittersweet book that portrays the hardships and obstacles that people like Amy and Henry have to go through, just for love. It focuses on perfectly capturing the essence of love and showing its different sides. The Clearing shows the ups and downs, and also depicts how people can mistake 'infatuation' or 'like' for love.

The concept of The Clearing is extraordinary yet convincing. The idea of the mist in the clearing separating two different times; present and 1944 stands out well and is solidified with the realistic references in the book. The Clearing has a simplistic backdrop that gives the plot a more intimate and rustic feel to it. Readers will be completely interlocked and captivated with the charming countryside where Amy and Henry reside.

Amy's voice as a narrator is clear and concise with a comfortable tone. Amy has been through a lot, and readers will resonate with her feelings and experiences as Amy strives to get over her abusive relationship. Henry, from a completely different time, is a well-established character from the very beginning and yearns for something different...something only Amy can give. Their relationship coincides with Henry's family's developing revelation of the situation they're in and this further complicates things between their boundaries. They won't get all of what they want, but they do get to experience something very valuable; love. Even if their romance is quite rushed, it's easy to overlook that tainting aspect and focus on the subtle and important messages in The Clearing.

Amy's situation is uncommon but the reader will become in tune with her situation because of the normalities that are present in the novel. Amy deals with school, trying to fit in, friends, and family problems just like many other teens today. Henry and his world serves as an escape from her unhappy reality which ultimately elaborates on the concept of reality and fantasy comparison.

Simple, beautiful, and compassionate, The Clearing is full of depth and simple messages that readers may have forgotten. It's reminiscent of quiet summer nights, the lovely countryside, and the slight paranormal tinge. The Clearing is a magical and thought-provoking read that will make readers truly question their morals and beliefs of love. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: Breathtaking, simple, and balanced.

---Field Report---
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 97/100 (A+)

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Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Title: Hate List
Author: Jennifer Brown
Pages: 416
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Valerie's life comes crashing down when Nick, the guys she supposedly loved, opened fired in the school Commons. He shot Mr. Kline, he shot Ginny, he shot Chris, and lots of other people. And the reason? The Hate List; a list that Valerie and Nick created. The list that entangles Valerie into the investigation. The list that compromises her innocence. Most people say it's as good as killing them herself. When she goes back to school, after six long months, she is greeted with cold stares and evil glares. She is known as the girl who helped kill those eight people. Her nickname really comes alive; Sister Death. But what will you do if you were in her place? What would you do if you really are innocent?

Every once in a while, there's a book that will completely stand out and blow up in your face. Hate List is a book that utterly does that.

School shootings aren't that uncommon these days. We hear more and more incidents concerning deaths caused by open fire shooting at schools. Hate List is a book that deals with the post-trauma of the incident. Through Valerie's narrative, we navigate through everything that she has to deal with; the guilt, the misjudgments, the distrust. She is forced to recover amidst an atmosphere of hate and unjust predicaments presented to her unjustly by her peers and teachers.

Family plays a big role in Hate List. Most of the time, I resent Valerie's family for their distrust and disgust in her when she did nothing wrong. Nick was the one who shot people, not Valerie. Even though she helped with the list, she didn't mean for anything to happen. Don't we all say or do things we don't mean? Valerie's father was the one character who was supposed to be supportive; but instead, he says he will never forgive her. He is completely insensitive to everybody's feelings but his own.

Brown reveals what really happens in the shooting, through alternating tenses between the past and the present. Subtly, Brown hints at what Nick really plans to do while Valerie is oblivious--with love--to see the signs that his life is a downward spiral, leaking with death and quiet but deadly anger. Nick is like a bomb, ticking, and waiting to explode.

Emotional and completely powerful, Hate List is a solid, tragic, and unforgettable debut with messages about guilt, grief, and facing obstacles in the real world. Here, Jennifer Brown evokes poignant emotions and brings us on a journey that ultimately teaches us how to move on. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: Everyone should read this. Valerie makes hard-as-hell decisions that I could never make. Hate List is one of those novels that people will not hate at all; in fact, probably the opposite. It's not on my 'hate list'. It's on my 'love list'.

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 7/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 4/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 4/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 95/100 (A+)

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A Map of the Known World by Lisa Sandell

Title: A Map of the Known World
Author: Lisa Sandell
Pages: 272
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: April 15, 2009

Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. This is the tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

Cora has already lost her brother. After Nate's death, her life crumbles and falls apart. Her parents are distant and emotionally unstable. They're not the happy family they used to be; their dinners, full of life and sometimes fights in the past, are now overcome with the shrill, horrible, sound of silence. She dreams of getting away, she dreams of exploring her map of the known world. As she goes back to school, stares are pointed her way. She is known as 'the girl who has a dead brother'. But surprisingly, she fells a deep connection with Damien---an artist---who was Nate's best friend and the one who was with him in the car on the night he died. She starts to fall for him...Will she finally move on and open her heart?

A Map of the Known World is a canvas, drawn with lines of raw emotion, shaded with the lesson of love. Sandell introduces a cast of complicated, three-dimensional characters that ultimately, learns to move on with their lives. Cora is a passionate and complex protagonist that just wants to escape in a town that is suffocating her. She uses art to express herself and discovers how her brother was; without the façade of a rebellious kid, on his way to completely ruining his life. She sees that he was a true artist.

Art plays an important role in the novel. Sandell describes everything beautifully and vividly through a flawless lyrical prose. Reading A Map of the Known World is like discovering everything all over again...through different, grief-stricken eyes that have gone through so much. Cora and Damien are the two lights, illuminating the darkness that surrounded Nate's death; so full of hope. Helena is also a great character that guides Cora and eventually becomes a true, loyal friend.

The cover is so distinct. You won't understand what it's there for, at first. But as you uncover more and more about the enigma that is Nate, the significance of it is truly sentimental. It's a representation of the fact that Nate's life was important and his talent held lots of potential. The heart with junk is a representation that he will never be forgotten. It's just like him actually; at first glance, it's just junk, but as you really look inside, you find something completely beautiful; the unknown.

A Map of the Known World is a great book full of wonder, awe, and most importantly, friendship. Lisa Sandell creates benevolently complex characters, crafts a heart-breaking story, and delivers the message that you can learn to live again and open your heart. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: I loved it. It is beautiful. That's all I need to say.

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 98/100 (A+)

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Nothing by Robin Friedman

Title: Nothing
Author: Robin Friedman
Pages: 232
Publisher: Flux
Publication Date: August 1, 2008

This short novel examines the life of a boy with bulimia. Parker Rabinowitz, 17, is good-looking, smart, and rich; he's bound to get into Princeton. He is expected to maintain perfect grades, participate in multiple extracurricular activities and service projects, and, in other words, be the perfect son. His sister, Danielle, is jealous of the attention he gets, but she is the first to notice that something is terribly wrong. Parker is binging uncontrollably, and then forcing himself to vomit. What starts out as an occasional stress release becomes an obsession controlling his life. His downward spiral climaxes when he convulses in his bathroom. He is rushed to the hospital, and after his "recovery" begins therapy.

Everyone thinks Parker Rabinowitz has everything; looks, talent, athleticism, and intelligence. He's on the path to HYP (Harvard Yale Princeton)...In other words, he's the perfect guy with the perfect college application. Everyone loves him, adores him, or admires him. But none of them, even his parents, notice his changed attitude, his warped mood swings, and his lack of confidence. Everybody except his sister. She notices his behavior and eventually finds out he's been making himself vomit. He's become completely bulimic and hurts the people around him in the process of his downward spiral. "Sometimes trees can look healthy on the outside, but actually be dying on the inside. These trees fall unexpectedly during a storm." These words have never rung so true.

Trapped in a world of stress and responsibility, Parker finds reassurance through bulimic actions like vomiting. Guys with bulimia is a topic that is uncommon and different from other stories. Friedman connects bulimia with high-school stress; the stress most teenagers are familiar to at school. The pressure and expectations are portrayed authentically through Parker's POV and seeing through his eyes is a whirlwind of emotions and problems, and his inability to accept himself echoes throughout every decision he makes.

Nothing is a half verse novel, half real novel. Danielle's narrative is mostly in broken poetry while Parker's is the novel part of the story. Her narration is filled with clarity and bluntness that could only be a second child's perspective.

Sometimes, throughout the novel, Parker with his stress and problems fall flat and get confusing. Parker and Danielle are the only characters that I really got to know and their friends are two-dimensional and unoriginal. Parker's relationship with Julianne is weird and unconventional...seemingly too predictable and useless. B+ =)

The Bottom Line: Nothing is a novel that I think, everyone should read. But although it's unique and interesting, the delivery of the novel was not as good as it could have been.

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 8/10
Theme: 9/10
Imagery: 7/10
Setting: 4/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 4/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 8/10
Total Score: 83/100 (B+)

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Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Title: Just Listen
Author: Sarah Dessen
Pages: 400
Publisher: Speak
Publication Date: February 28, 2008

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"--at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf 's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

Nobody knows. Anabelle Greene never told what happened that night. She never talks about it...ever. She doesn't talk about wanting to quit modeling either, or her sister's eating disorder. Everyone thinks she's perfect. And everyone thinks she hooked up with Will, Sophie's boyfriend. After a summer of loneliness and depression, she faces hell; otherwise known high school. Rumors flare and whispers float around. She has this to deal with along with her already-crumbling family. Everything changes when she meets Owen, an honest to goodness bad boy obsessed with 'music enlightenment'. As they become friends, Anabelle starts telling the truth, and standing up for herself. Will she ever have the courage to once again tell the truth? And will she be brave enough to finally open her heart?

Just Listen is a waterfall of cascading emotions; never receding. Dessen brings out a lot of poignant feelings throughout the book. Anabelle is a mature protagonist that has to deal with a lot of things she sometimes isn't ready for yet. The reality that Dessen creates, is real and definitely not sugar-coated. You're able to see what really happens and how a teenager like Anabelle reacts and deals with everything. Owen is one of those brooding guys in a novel. He's a distinct and realistic character that doesn't care what others think. Little by little you get to know him and put everything together to create a strong and individual characterization of Owen. He is definitely one of my favorite so-called bad boys!

The glass house is an aspect of the book that is particularly significant. It's mentioned a few times and really seeps into the reader's head. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "Pretending everything was just fine, and from the outside, I was sure it at least looked that way...what we appeared to be-the five of us, a happy family, sharing a meal in our glass house--to anyone in a car passing on the road outside, looking in." The glass house is a sort of façade or pretense here. The book itself is also multi-layered, with lots of subtle, underlying messages. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: Just Listen is mostly family-related with a little sprinkle of sweet, meaningful romance. It's a book that a lot of people will be able to relate to, and learn from. It's an emotional, touching, and beautiful read that you will want to read (or hear) over and over again...just like your favorite song. So just read. Just Listen.

---Report Card---
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 99/100 (A+)

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Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Title: Going too Far
Author: Jennifer Echols
Pages: 256
Publisher: MTV
Publication Date: March 17, 2009

How far would you go?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over...

Rebellious and misleading, Meg gets drunk and and finds her friends and herself inadvertently rescued by the police officer arresting them; Officer Johnafter. As punishment, Meg has to ride through the night with him, trying to stop any trouble that might happen. It isn't as bad as she assumed, but the mystery of John's past with the bridge, haunts her. And as she gets closer to him, sparks start to fly. But can two people with two painful pasts come together to create a better future? They just might.

Filled with lies, hurt, and major drama, Going too Far is a beautiful, thought-provoking read that overcomes all stereotypes and leads you to an unexpected ending. Meg and John are both sensitive, three-dimensional characters that try to push each other over the limit. They are completely unfathomable to one another at first, but the more they spend time together, their layers are slowly peeled away and they find themselves completely looking through each other's pretenses.

The emotions swirling through Going too Far are powerful, and raw. Completely layered and entangled, Meg and John's emotions have everything to do with their decisions. They've both had traumatic pasts and they're both broken and hurt, still unrecovered with well-hidden grief. Echols reveals painful truths through this very personal and extremely well-expressed story.

Seeing through Meg's eyes is simply eye-opening. She is such a different and complicated character. Her feelings and relationships with her friends and John are what makes her perspective real and moving. You can see her grow throughout the story and finally find herself where she belongs. A+ :-)

The Bottom Line: Going too Far is a strong and evocative read. It really resonated with me unlike any other book. No words can truly express how I feel about this novel. All I can say is that Jennifer Echols has permanently cemented herself as one of my favorite authors.

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 100/100 (A+) !!!This, and Perfect Chemistry are the only title-holders for The Holy Grail: Beholder of the perfect 100!!!

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Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Title: Perfect Chemistry (Book 1)
Author: Simone Elkeles
Pages: 368
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: December 23, 2008

At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago, everyone knows that south siders and north siders aren't exactly compatible elements. So when head cheerleader Brittany Ellis and gang member Alex Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, the results are bound to be explosive. But neither teen is prepared for the most surprising chemical reaction of all-love. Can they break through the stereotypes and misconceptions that threaten to keep them apart?

Alex Fuentes is a Mexican gang-member from the south side. Brittany Ellis is a cheerleader from the north side. Two completely different people from two completely different worlds. They are thrown together to be lab partners in their chemistry class, and at first, they hate each other. But as their walls start to crumble, and as they finally let the other in, they fall in love. Will they break through the stereotypes? Will Alex continue on with the bet? North and South. Rich and poor. Both have the same need: Love. They're the same person and complete opposites at the same time. Two worlds collide.

Perfect Chemistry is an explosive and powerful read accented with romance and complexity. Alex and Brittany are both generic stereotypes with a longing to get out of their problematic lives. Even so, they go about their daily lives, keeping up a façade, to uphold their respective reputations. Despite what their classmates think, Alex and Brittany aren't what they seem to be.

The relationship between Alex and Brittany grows and evolves throughout the story. It's fast-paced, but not rushed. All of their decisions and desires are easy for anybody to relate with. Elkeles alternates the book with Alex's and Brittany's point of views and keeps the book more unprejudiced through both characters' eyes. The harsh and piercing atmosphere only amplifies their personalities even more. The dialogue is real and honest; and the scattering of Spanish phrases thoughout attain a more authentic environment, pertaining to Alex's background.

The emotions that Elkeles evokes in Perfect Chemistry are raw and genuine, but dramatic and electrifying as well. Alex and Brittany go through many things but the biggest obstacle for both of them is to love and trust one another. And although the romance between both characters is important, Perfect Chemistry also focuses on themes of racism, diversity, misconceptions, and determination, making for a bold and compelling read that advertises the consequences of being involved in gang-life. Elkeles has written a beautiful novel with strong themes, and a romance more explosive than any exothermic reaction.

The Bottom Line: The best book I've ever read. I'm serious, when bloggers first interviewed me or if anybody asked me if I had a favorite book, I would've said no. That's how it went for the past 14 years of my life. How can I choose just one? But if you ask me now, Perfect Chemistry would be the first that would pop into my head. It's amazing. And surprisingly, I like the cover. Some people don't agree with me, but I think it's relevant to the story and to both Alex's and Brittany's personality. I love everything about it...especially the ending! You'll just have to read the book to find out! A+ ---> MY FIRST PERFECT SCORE!!! :-)

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 100/100 (A+) !!!!!!!MY FIRST PERFECT SCORE!!!!!!!

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Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

Title: Perfect You
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Pages: 304
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 25, 2008


Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast. Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible. And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest. Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them....

Everything in Kate's life that can go wrong, does go wrong; her family is falling apart, her best friend isn't talking to her, Will keeps bugging her, her social life is down the drain, and her dad quits his job to sell vitamins. That's a lot for one teenager to handle. Kate is trying extremely hard to get through her daily routine consisting bullies, heart-ache, and embarrassment. You think that's it? Think again. When her grandmother comes to visit, and Will starts to show interest towards her, her life spins out of control. Will she finally crack?

Perfect You is a completely captivating read. Scott takes readers into a roller-coaster ride full of pain, angst, and love. Perfect You had strong themes of independence, love, family, and friendship, creating a riveting tale so powerful, that it will bring out many emotions for readers to ponder upon. Scott was able to twist a cliché plot into an enthralling tale that will have readers flipping to the end, itching to be pulled into Kate's life.

Kate is a sensible and practical character in the novel. She needs a break from everything that was going around her. She needs a break from all the pain and all her problems; too many things were expected from her. That's where Will comes in. Will and Kate's history together isn't quite as believable as it should have been. Scott needs to create a more realistic back-story with these characters.

At some parts of Perfect You, so many different things are happening all at once. There are too many events going on in the novel that may confuse the reader. It's overwhelming and suffocating at the same time. The drama really needs to be lessened.

Kate's character doesn't make sense. She's sickeningly thoughtful, one second, and then she's ravingly angry the next. The readers are thrown off trail unexpectedly through these 'mood-swings'. It didn't contribute to the plot. It just made it more random.

The Bottom Line: Perfect You is an interesting read with some weaker aspects. The title, for me, doesn't really make sense. It's just the name of the vitamins. I don't get why it is, but otherwise, Scott did a great job! A- :-)

---Report Card---
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 8.5/10
Setting: 4.5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 9/10
Total Score: 89/100 (A-)

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Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Title: Cracked Up To Be
Author: Courtney Summers
Pages: 224
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: December 23, 2008

What's the worst thing you've ever done?

When 'Perfect' Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left along, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all. Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

One word to describe Parker before the incident would be 'perfect'. After the incident, it would be 'careless'. How could a person like Parker become a suicidal, self-absorbed person who doesn't care anymore? Everything revolves around 'the incident' or 'the accident'. Parker has many obstacles thrown at her, and everything goes wrong. Her relationship with her friends is slowly crumbling and her feelings toward Jake seem to be growing...awkwardly. Has Parker finally cracked?

Cracked Up To Be is an amazingly realistic and suspenseful debut novel. Parker is a character that will absorb the reader into her daily life and problems. Readers will be itching to find out her secret and what she did. Parker's life has turned into one big mess because of one thing that completely and utterly changed her life.

Many contradicting and controversial issues are brought up in Cracked Up To Be. Parker deals with suicide, drugs, alchohol, and pressure. Summers delivers every single one of these issues, straightforwardly without sugar-coating them. Just plain and raw in its most simple form.

The mystery of Parker's grief is slowly, and smoothly unraveled through a series of strategically placed flashbacks. As her secret is carefully revealed, she is forced to deal with all her surroundings and obstacles. Will the thought of never living with herself take over her completely? Or is she still the same Parker that can overcome anything...perfectly?

The Bottom Line: Cracked Up To Be was an emotionally-draining read for me! It will take me longer to read something like that again...even though I read this one in an hour! It was so depressing for me to read about all her problems. She was suffocating in them...literally! I felt I was too! A devastatingly perfect read! A+ :-)

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 96.5/100 (A+)

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Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Pages: 352
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publication Date: August 1, 2009

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters---

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, they find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Prophecy of the Sisters is an unprecedented and transcendent start to a new series. From the turn of the first page, up until the flip of the last page, Zink persistently keeps the reader captivated and absorbed in the book. Zink writes with perfect balance and vivid imagery that establish the dark, cryptic, and elegant ambiance that is the Prophecy of the Sisters.

Zink's engrossing and powerfully suspenseful plot was executed with great authenticity and skill. Zink's lyrical and alluring prose helped cultivate the eerie and graceful atmosphere throughout the totality of the novel. The vividly-described setting is matched flawlessly with the ominous, enigmatic time era.

An interesting aspect of the novel is the relationship between Lia and James. Their easy-flowing romance has suddenly become dark and secretive. What used to be luminous and blithe is now withdrawn and obscure. The bonds between her and James seem to slowly crumble with the lack of trust and--seemingly--love.

Throughout the entirety of this novel, the reader will feel like Lia is suffocating and trapped in all the events and conflicts that distinguish themselves. Lia, herself, is a strong and unique character...not at all like any stereotype. The unknown mysteries about the prophecy pique her interests. And as she delves deeper, and deeper, she is slowly becoming the very heart of the prophecy. She must fight against Alice; no matter what it takes. Intense pressure and grief must not overcome her. If it does, nothing will ever be the same...everything will change---for the worse.

The Bottom Line: If I was to describe the Prophecy of the Sisters, I would choose beautiful. Beautiful is a simple word, yet it portrays more than any other word could. Zink delivers a magical tale of two sisters with the surrounding of lies, deceit, and hate. This debut author seems like she's been in this business for a much longer than 2009. I can't wait for the next installation of the series to come out! A+ :-)

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8.5/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9.5/10
Theme: 9/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 9/10
Total Score: 95.5/100 (A+)

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A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

Title: A Mango-Shaped Space
Author: Wendy Mass
Pages: 240
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publication Date: October 19, 2005

Everyone thinks I named my cat Mango because of his orange eyes, but that's not the case. I named him Mango because the sounds of his purrs and his wheezes and his meows are all various shades of yellow-orange...

Mia appears to be the most normal kid in her family. Her younger brother keeps a chart of all the hamburgers he's eaten. Her older sister dyes her hair a different color every week. But Mia knows she is far from ordinary. She is keeping something from everyone: sounds, numbers, and letters have color for her. When school trouble finally forces Mia to reveal her secret, she feels like a freak. She embarks on an intense journey of self-discovery, and by the time she realized she has isolated herself from everyone who cares about her, it's almost too late. She has to lose something very special in order to find herself.

Note: I borrowed A Mango-Shaped Space from a friend of mine. She said that it was really good. I wanted to see it for myself. She was right.

A Mango-Shaped Space is about thirteen-year-old Mia, having a rare condition called Synesthesia. This means that she sees letters, numbers, and words in color. This book is original. That's the best word to describe it. Before A Mango-Shaped Space, I've never heard about Synesthesia. This made me more aware of the fact that other kids or teenagers just like us, are having a difficult time because of this condition. After reading this, I became all the more thankful.

Mia was a compelling and admirable character. She was brave and naive but very mature for her age. If I had Synesthesia, I'd probably go crazy! Mia's family was one of the aspects of this book that made it special. They were all eccentric and nutty. I found her brother to be the wierdest of all though. I don't know anyone who makes Hamburgur charts. At one point, I truly felt sorry for Mia. Nobody understood her; not her friends, not her family-nobody. This frustrated me. In the real world, aren't people supposed to be more empathetic and more patient towards someone like Mia?

Mass completely captured a thirteen-year-old's point of view. Even though Mia was mature for her age, her youth still struck out every once in a while. That's what I admire most about Mass and her books. Mass's execution of the book was-in ONE word-flawless. I flew through the entire book. Never once did I get bored. Her writing flowed smoothly and effortlessly. Simple, and innocent.

The Bottom Line: Mass truly delivered on this one. A Mango-Shaped Space is a not-to-be-missed YA novel that would surely capture and move your hearts. A :-)

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 9.5/10
Setting: 4/5
Voice: 4.5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 8/10
Total Score: 92/100 (A)

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