My Book Reviews

Category: Young Adult

This category contains any posts published in reference to books of Young Adult genre.

Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns by John Green
Release: October 16th 2008
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Speak
Source: Amazon

Paper Towns Synopsis:

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew…

Review:

Watch my video review of Paper Towns by John Green

[embedyt] https://youtu.be/1nR4wtSsK0s[/embedyt]

I enjoyed reading Paper Towns. Firstly, the story is very unique and interesting and there is never a dull moment. Surprisingly, what stood out for me was how the story depicts the perception of a character rather than the character themselves. Another thing that I enjoyed was how Quentin learns more about himself while he is on his quest to find Margo. Even though it is bittersweet towards the end, I still enjoyed Quentin’s journey. However, I really did not like Margo as I thought the was very unrealistic and self-centered. Overall, while this is not as good as Turtles all the way down, I did enjoy reading it.

August 16, 2019
Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi
Release: November 15th 2011
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Harper
Source: Amazon

Shatter Me Synopsis:

̶I̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶u̶r̶s̶e̶
I have a gift

̶I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶
I’m more than human

̶M̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶l̶e̶t̶h̶a̶l̶
My touch is power

̶I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶i̶r̶ ̶w̶e̶a̶p̶o̶n̶
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Review:

Watch my video review of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

[embedyt] https://youtu.be/TDCXW-d7ah8[/embedyt]

The main thing I liked about the story is Warner. He is somewhat psychotic and commanding, but he also has a certain charm and has a fan boy quality towards Juliette. The story is also very fast paced where things happen one after the other. However, there are two main things which I disliked about the story. Firstly, it is the insta love between Juliette and Adam. Secondly, it is Juliette’s personality and not being a strong main character. Overall, “Shatter Me” has a decent plot, and the world building is decent, but the character development is awful.

August 14, 2019
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
Release: August 6th 2019
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Delacorte
Source: Amazon

House of Salt and Sorrows Synopsis:

In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls’ lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn’t sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh’s involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it’s a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.

Review:

Watch my video review of House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

[embedyt] https://youtu.be/fGnowhJBuJg[/embedyt]

To be honest I was so conflicted when I was reading this book. On one hand, it is so good because it has all the elements that I love to read about in YA. It is a retelling of the Grimm’s fairy tale called “The Twelve Dancing Princesses”. It is also a Gothic murder mystery with a touch of romance, and had other elements like ghosts and gods. There are a lot of creepy elements, with some truly terrifying and gory parts. Moreover, there is also lot of twists and turns where you just don’t know what is going to happen next.

But that is exactly the same reason why I also could not enjoy this book at times. There is just too many things happening where the focus just shifts from one thing to the next, to a point where I really did not know what was happening. Overall, this book was interesting to read but it did not live to my expectations.

August 14, 2019
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Release: May 14th 2019
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Amazon

Stepsister Synopsis:

Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe … which is now filling with blood.

When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she is turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she is a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a feisty girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.

Isabelle has tried to fit in. To live up to her mother’s expectations. To be like her stepsister. And, to be sweet. Also, to be pretty. One by one, she has cut away pieces of herself in order to survive a world that doesn’t appreciate a girl like her. And that has made her mean, jealous, and hollow.

Until she gets a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.

Review:

Watch my video review of Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0EC-p0UNNE[/embedyt]

This was such an amazing book to read and I love so many aspects about it. Firstly, I loved the whole concept of how Fate and Chance are treated like human like characters and how they try to control Isabelle’s life. Moreover, I also loved Isabelle as the main protagonist. The author has done a beautiful job in portraying the story from the stepsister’s perspective.The author has also narrated the story in such a wonderful manner, where we gradually see Isabelle come out of her shell and become someone powerful if given the chance. Overall, I think Stepsister is a wonderful ‘villain’ retelling of a Classic tale.

August 5, 2019
Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1) by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Release: July 9th 2019
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Amazon

Spin the Dawn Synopsis:

Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land. However, as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan. Edan’s piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge. This is to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be. Moreover, it has to be from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh.

Review:

Watch my video review of Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim!

[embedyt]https://youtu.be/H7vP8UmTz9A[/embedyt]

I initially picked up this book because I loved the cover design and the blurb sounded interesting. However, even the book cover doesn’t do justice as the story is so amazing! Maia is a great role model and does her best to provide for her family. Additionally, the world building is out of the world and I love the quests that she endures. Overall, simply loved reading this one and I cannot wait for Book 2 in the series

August 2, 2019
Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet #1) by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Release: March 27th 2018
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Source: Amazon

Aru Shah and the End of Time Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school. While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she’ll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?

One day, three schoolmates show up at Aru’s doorstep to catch her in a lie. They don’t believe her claim that the Lamp of Bharata is cursed, and they dare Aru to prove it. Just a quick light, Aru thinks. Then she can get herself out of this mess and never ever fib again.

But lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it’s up to Aru to save them.

The only way to stop the demon is to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers, protagonists of the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, and journey through the Kingdom of Death. But how is one girl in Spider-Man pajamas supposed to do all that?

Review:

Watch my video review of Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi!

[embedyt] https://youtu.be/55VPmrmTT1Y[/embedyt]

This book was just so much fun to read! The characters are fun, brave, and so funny at times. I haven’t laughed out loud so much from one single book except this one. The world building is just amazing and although at times you feel like you are reading a Rick Riordan novel. It is so refreshing to see strong female characters representing Hindu Mythology in this fast paced, fantasy adventure. Overall, I absolutely loved reading Aru Shah and the End of time.

August 2, 2019
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Release: October 10th 2017
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Source: Amazon

Turtles all the way down Synopsis:

It all begins with a fugitive billionaire and the promise of a cash reward. Turtles All the Way Down is about lifelong friendship, the intimacy of an unexpected reunion, Star Wars fan fiction, and tuatara. But at its heart is Aza Holmes, a young woman navigating daily existence within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

In his long-awaited return, John Green shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity.

Review:

Watch my video review of Turtles all the way down by John Green!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2CCCMgm1ds[/embedyt]

This book got to me in a way that no books have had an effect on. John Green is an extremely talented writer. It’s fascinating how he has managed to make this book be philosophical, nerdy, intellectual and realistic all at the same time. I read that the author suffered from OCD, so you can see how personal he gets with Aza’s character. Moreover, you get to see how serious her illness is, and not something to be taken lightly. Overall, I loved reading this book and I think if did an excellent job of focusing on a subject that is still considered as taboo in today’s society.

August 2, 2019
The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan

The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan
Release: May 5th 2007
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Amazon

Titan’s Curse Synopsis:

It’s not everyday you find yourself in combat with a half-lion, half-human.

But when you’re the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster.

Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive…

Review:

Watch my video review of The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcPGwJ2QZQs[/embedyt]

I really missed Annabeth being in the forefront of this story. There are a lot of new characters introduced in this book like Thalia, Zoe, Artemis, Bianca, Nico etc. but still I missed the dynamic of Percy, Annabeth and Grover. It was very difficult to take into the new characters as well, as most of them are so annoying in the start. I did not like Thalia at all as I think she came off as a very smug person and was trying to overshadow Percy. At times I wished she had remained a tree, or if it was her who was trapped instead of Annabeth. Then you have Bianca who randomly decides to join the hunt even though she knows Nico is all she has and she cannot protect him once she joins. She comes off as very self-centered and I did not like her.

But there are some characters that I actually liked. I loved Apollo! I thought he was so cool and chilled for a God and kind of goofy at the same time. He is hilarious at times and I loved the haiku he blurts out. I also loved Blackjack, the Black Pegasus character who helps Percy and transports him everywhere. I thought Zoe’s character was also very interesting. At first, I really did not like her as I thought she came off as a snob. But she grew on my and it was so tragic on what happens to her at the end. It was heartbreaking to read Zoe’s scenes towards the end.

The ending also shocked me because we also find out who Nico is and the powers he possesses. There is also an interesting character that Percy meets called Rachel, who I cannot wait to read more about in the next book. Oh, and lets not forget how cool Dr.Chase (Annabeth’s father) is for making an appearance to rescue them!

Coming to the plot, there are so many action packed scenarios that the team find themselves in, whether it is fighting skeletons in the Hoover Dam, or defeating Talos in the Junkyard of the Gods. Rick Riordan again manages to add humor really well to the adventure where they all make about “the Dam Snack Bar” and “Dam French Fries”. And lets not forget Bessie the Ophiotaurus who keeps mooing a lot. Any scene with Bessie just made me laugh out loud! The book also progresses nicely with Percy and Kronos, making you want to pick up the next book. So, there is a LOT that happens in this book. This book was really good in that it felt more grounded and serious to the series, and there is a lot of character development.

Overall, I liked this book much more than “The Sea of Monsters” but not as good as the first book “The Lightning Thief”. But the Titan’s Curse is a complete entertainer and a perfect continuation to the series, and I would rate it 5/5 stars.

July 22, 2019
The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan
Release: April 1st 2006
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Amazon

Sea of Monsters Synopsis:

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan’s amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a “half blood” whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan’s series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment.

In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book’s drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

Review:

Watch my video review of The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHTQqEb6CLQ[/embedyt]

Again, this is a wonderful and exciting novel to the Percy Jackson series. It is light-hearted, fun, adventurous, suspenseful and contains a lot of twists and turns. As the characters and the situations have already been introduced in book 1, the author directly jumps into the story-line. In my review of The Lightning Thief, I mentioned that there was too much happening, one after the other. But in The Sea of Monsters, I feel that Riordan has balanced the action and adventure along with the character development perfectly.

Another reason why I loved this book was because of Tyson! He is a wonderful addition to the cast and I love his relation with Percy. I loved how he is so childlike and positive, and his love for the Hippocampi, I hope he stays for the rest of the series. Moreover, I also loved the part where Percy and the gang meet C.C. and she turns him into a guinea pig. I also liked how the team has to work with Clarisse even though she is very annoying. Honestly, I liked Clarisse in this book as I thought she had more layers to her than what she just portrays. Grover is hilarious even when he is in trouble, and I was laughing loudly when he tried to hide from the cyclops by wearing a wedding veil.

The only thing I felt this book was lacking was in its villain. Sure, we get to know more about Kronos and the long term plan of the Titans, but the bad guy in this book is the Cyclops Polyphemus, and he seemed more silly and scary. The book felt light-hearted at times, and it was hard to take the team seriously when they are battling him. Even Tantalus seems more comical than creepy, as he tries to reach for food that slips away from him. Due to this, I felt like Sea of Monsters was more of a filler book to the series.

However, the book is completely entertaining and a great continuation to the series. The story ends with a cliffhanger where you just want to pick up the next book and continue reading. There is also more groundwork laid between Percy and Kronos, and I can’t wait to read how that follows. The author has beautifully blended humor with adventure with strong characters and that is what makes the series so entertaining.

Overall, I would give the sea of monsters a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

July 21, 2019
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan
Release: March 1st 2006
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Amazon

Lightning Thief Synopsis:

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse – Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe.

She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena – Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Review:

Watch my video review of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efnB3NC8UuA[/embedyt]

What can I say? I loved reading this book and it was it was an amazing start to the series. There is never a dull moment in the book! From the first chapter, we immediately get sucked into the adventure where Percy fights his monster teacher. Each and every chapter had something exciting happening in Percy’s life, like his encounter with the Oracle, his experience in camp Half Blood, meeting Medusa, escaping Echidna from the Gateway Arch, and my personal favorite, when he goes to the Underworld to meet Hades. The author knows just how to keep you hooked and I found myself glued to the pages.

Coming to the characters, I also love the friendship between Percy, Annabeth and Grover. I think the three of them make an amazing team and really root for each other. Grover, in fact is my favorite character in this book! He loves food and he is hilarious, what’s not to like? The world building is simply amazing with so many details to Greek Mythology. I love how the author has describes the history of the characters in a funny and imaginative manner. In general, I loved Riordan’s simplistic style of writing, and the way he focused on action, adventure and history.

My only minor gripe about this story was it felt very overwhelming at times. I love how fast paced it is, but sometimes it felt like too much was happening. At times I felt like I just could not catch up to what was going on. Also, I was cringing a bit when the characters say that the western world is the greatest in the world, and the American force is greatest of all. I don’t want to get into a political debate here, but I didn’t think it was necessary to explicitly emphasize that on a children’s book, as it might corrupt the ideologies of younger readers.

Overall, the Lightning Thief is the perfect start to the series and sets up the groundwork for the remaining books, and I would give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

July 20, 2019