As Shelby's mother was dying, she promised her 3 things that would later become known as The Promises. She promised to love and listen to her father, live without restraint, and love as much as possible. Shelby has never doubted The Promises and believes that they are a way of guiding her in life. However, when she and her father start to plan the Princess Ball and she finds out she has to vow to be free of drugs, sex, and alcohol. She and her friend, Jonas, are always finding loopholes to The Promises and so Shelby decides that she needs to find a way out of it. Throughout the Ball preparations, Shelby starts to learn what her mother really meant.
When I first picked up this book, I didn't have high expectations for it. I don't really believe in purity and haven't enjoyed the books I've read about it (I'm talking about you, Pure by Terra Elan McVoy). However, I was pleasantly surprised. Although it was a bit predictable, it was a lot deeper than I thought it would be. It had some very good lessons about promises while being entertaining and humorous. It's a nice short book with some realistic characters. 4 out of 5 stars.
The Metamorphosis is about Samsa, a traveling salesman, who wakes up one morning to find out that he is now an insect. He and his family become alienated from each other because of his new form.
This is one of my required summer reading books for AP English. I thought that it was very interesting and humorous at times. I like to believe that he really wasn't a bug, but instead very sick and unable to communicate with his family. This is such a short read, it was only 74 pages. I suggest if you have a spare moment to read it. I also look forward to discussing it in class. 4 out of 5 stars.
Emaline has been with Luke ever since freshman year. Now, it's her last summer before college. Everything between them has been pretty constant, but Emaline is starting to wonder if things need to be changed. She works for her family business in Colby, a small beach town, and meets Theo, a very driven guy from New York. Emaline also has some problems with her father (not Dad) who had broken a very important promise to her. She is very conflicted about what to do with her life and how to stay loyal to Colby and escape at the same time.
The romance of this novel was interesting. It didn't have the swoon-worthy guys I was used to and this novel wasn't really focused around the romance at all! That was a bit refreshing. I really could relate to Emaline and Luke's relationship because I have been with the same guy for almost three years. Like them, there is a lot of comfort and he is a great guy. It was strange how much their relationship mirrored ours. I liked Emaline and all of her flaws and also I LOVED Morris and Benji. They are easily the best characters in this book. Theo however, was cute at first but then he started to annoy me.
I liked how realistic The Moon and More was and how there were so many different problems woven in. The only thing I disliked was how I felt I didn't get enough closure with the different characters. But I guess that's just how life is!
If you're looking for a good summer read, check this out. 4 out of 5 stars.
Think about all you know about Peter Pan. Now, forget all of it. Brom tells the story of Peter, the child thief, who preys on abused and abandoned children. He tells them of a better place with no grownups. But unlike Neverland, this is a dangerous place. Avalon is dying and Peter needs an army of children to help save the Lady, the overseer of the land. Add Nick, a fourteen-year-old, who is new to the Devils, trolls, pixies, witches, and flesheaters, and you're in for a treat.
A few months ago, I read Krampus, another book by Brom. The cover terrified me, yet it sounded so interesting that I kept reading it. Surprisingly, it was one of the best books I've ever read. So I decided to read another book by Brom.
There is honestly so much going on in this book to fit into this review. It is a completely awesome, dark adaption of Peter Pan. Also, I like how Brom only took the idea of Peter from Peter Pan and not too much else in his story. That's what makes it so familiar and different at the same time.
All the characters in this novel are amazing. There's Peter, my favorite, who is extremely devious and cunning but at the same time just a lost child. I love how you get the background story on him which shapes who he is now. I also love Nick, who is just as lost in different ways. The thing I like about Brom's stories is how there is really no good or bad. Each character could be either depending on how you look at him.
The plot is fast paced and very adventurous. Also, what makes The Child Thief even more amazing is the illustrations. There are beautiful pictures of various scenes and and characters throughout the book. It's like an adult picture book.
This book had be flinching, cheering, and crying all at different parts. It's a dark story and there's violence, gore, and cussing so it's definitely more for adults. However, if you're interested, I highly recommend that you give it a try. You're in for a treat. I love this so much that I'll give it 6 out of 5 stars.
Cassidy has a pretty good life. She has two awesome best friends and is a great student and cheerleader. The only thing she doesn't have is a guy. When she is is on a school ski trip and meets a guy named Dax, who invites her to a party, she is flattered. Cassidy goes off to meet him that night, and then remembers nothing. He took everything from her, including a lock of her curly red hair. She begins to alienate herself and discover how she can keep living in the new life she has now.
I really liked Cassidy as a character. She was easy to relate to and was by no means perfect. I also LOVED Corey. He was awesome.
The plot was a little slow at times, but I think that the author did a really good job of reflecting Cassidy's confusion about her rape. She is so so lost, and as a reader you feel lost with her. One thing I really liked about this book was how it almost didn't focus on the rape at all. It was pretty much of what Cassidy is feeling and how she is learning to cope. Of course she's angry with Dax, but she doesn't spend pages and pages venting about how much she hates him or anything.
It's very thought provoking and worth reading, so I would recommend it. 4 out of 5 stars.
This is the last book in Summer's summer. I think this was a nice conclusion to the series and wrapped up things nicely.
The longer I kept reading, the more these characters' flaws showed through. Summer is a bit of a slut. I mean, she says she and Seth are official, and then she's kissing Sean. Yet... she "loves him"? Excuse me, they've known each other for 2 months. But whatever, I will pretend that that is forgivable. Diana annoys me because she feels like revenge is justified. And Marquez, she draws back every time she feels too emotionally involved. It just begins to feel a little bit unrealistic.
Despite that, I think that this is a fun summer series (no pun intended) and if you're looking for a really easy read, try this. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
July's Promise is the second book in the Summer series. It picks up the story right where the first leaves off.
I felt like the this book had more excitement than the first one but I found it to be pretty unrealistic. The dialogue is great and the plot is good, just sometimes it made me roll my eyes. As I'm writing this I've already read the third book and I get the 2nd and 3rd confused. So I'm just going to review my overall thoughts there!
In conclusion, I still think this is a cute series. The characters are easy to relate to and all have very different personalities. If you liked the first book in this series, I definitely recommend you read the second. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
