Saturday, April 30, 2016

Cutter Boy by Cristy Watson

Synopsis

Bullied at school and ignored at home, Travis has a secret: cutting himself with a razor blade is the only thing that lets him control the pain in his life and find some peace. When he becomes friends with Chyvonne, a new girl at school, he doesn't know how to get close to her without revealing his secret and making himself even more vulnerable. Spending time with Chyvonne spurs Travis to try to discover why his mother can't seem to face his very existence. It's only when he learns about the art form of paper cutting that he realizes there might be other ways to make himself feel adrenalin-fueled and in control.
Although self-harm through cutting is a problem usually associated with teenage girls, many young men are involved in different sorts of self-injury. This story explores a teenager's motivations for cutting and the options for overcoming the need to self-injure.


My Thoughts
★★★ Stars
I received this book via NG in return for an honest review.
***TRIGGERS!!! TRIGGERS!!! TRIGGERS!!!***
This book has cutting/self harm triggers.

What the ever loving crap. man!! What the what!!
*takes a deep breath to try to chill out*
Okay, no. Seriously. what the hell was that?
This book was so freaking awesome! And the fact it is 3am now, I can say once you start this book, you won't want to put it down. 
I love the flow of the story and it makes you really open your eyes that people go through this. GUYS GO THROUGH THIS! Not just girls. but it is so rare you hear about a guy cutting, so they just get lost. This book really shines a light on that.

Now what made me mad about this book.... For one, there wasn't really a "section off" for when a new scene popped up, so you kinda have to sit there rereading for a second to realize "oh! he's hone from school now!" or "oh! he's at school now!".... but mainly what really made me mad was there was no help for him in the end. As a reader, I didn't get closure. Sure, the mom gets help, but does he? I love he has a hobby he can focus on and take his pain out on, but I kinda wish he would have reached out more or something. SOMETHING to let me know he will be okay and that he plans to start his fight to stop.......which makes me question, does he? does he even WANT to?
I get the whole "you can't help those who don't want help." But I'm left questioning if he wants help? I know he doesn't want to feel invisible anymore and wants the bullying to stop.

Just. So. Many. QUESTIONS. And. No. ANSWERS! GRRR!!!!

Which makes this book feel so incomplete.

That ending made me want to throw my book across the room. The ending pissed me off and left me feeling like it was unfair. For him AND myself as a reader. 

I loved this book yet wanted so much more from it.
I guess you can say Cutter Boy is a bitter sweet story.

Monday, April 25, 2016

The Far End by Randal Licato

Synopsis

Am I Dreaming? Maybe...Maybe not.
Telby is awakened by a freakishly hairy,
talking creature who calls himself the Ricksnuff.
The Ricksnuff pulls a ladder from his mouth
that leads into a strange place and offers Telby
a deal: If he leaves his life behind,
and climbs up the ladder, he can be someone new.
Telby thinks life is pointless, a waste,
and nothing is new.
He will prove the Ricksnuff wrong.



My Thoughts
★★★★★ Astounding Stars
I received this book  in return for an honest review.
What a wonderful adventure!
I truly enjoyed this book. When I first started I read the note from the author and he mentioned that he didn't want to push his beliefs on anyone. Reading this, I couldn't help wonder why he would say that because I didn't really see how this has to do anything with religion, but... that chapter made me realize, as well as the last page confirming it, then I truly understood.... And it was beautiful.
Which is kinda odd I guess, huh.... All these monsters and crazy adventures, yet still beautiful because of that beautiful ending. 

To be honest, I really can see this being a child's book. The writing was so fluid and enticing that it just kept you hooked, reading non-stop. The monsters ... reminded me of R.L. Stine's writing. Lol. Which is even more epicly awesome because I love R.L. Stine and these fella's (monsters; even Rick) seemed like they stepped out of a Goosebumps book! Lol. It was wonderful and left me in awe! 

I really would recommend this book. It's for all ages. Young and old..... and take it from someone who actually really doesn't like "adventure" books, this one is amazing. 
I have actually read 2 other books by Randal Licato (Adeline and The Other Side) and I would sooooooo recommend those as well! He is a awesome author. His books are short but have such a impact, it leaves you with a "whoa, that was awesome!" feeling and really makes you think... And he is one of those authors that when you read his books, you'll remember them years later even if you've only read them once.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Ugly by Margaret McHeyzer

Synopsis

If I were dead, I wouldn't be able to see.
If I were dead, I wouldn't be able to feel.
If I were dead, he'd never raise his hand to me again.
If I were dead, his words wouldn't cut as deep as they do.
If I were dead, I'd be beautiful and I wouldn't be so...ugly.
I'm not dead...but I wish I was.
*This is a dark YA/NA standalone, full-length novel. Contains violence and some explicit language*



My Thoughts
★★★ Stars
I received this book via NG in return for an honest review.
For the sake of my mental health, I have to put this under Did Not Finish at 23%.
The blurb really should have also added "Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault" among other things.
From start to finish has me so jacked up, I'm shaking, crying, and I feel so sick and scared. My husband is having one hell of a time trying to calm me down.

Normally, I do not rate DNF books, but I actually think this book deserves stars. Why? Because how the author writes..... It's like it really happened to her. Like she knows.... What victims go though. How they feel. How some handle it. The author made you feel ..... every single feeling. 
As someone who has been sexually assaulted then raped three months later... This book was very hard to even get to 23%. I wish I could finish it. I really do. But I can't, and I don't think I ever will. The book seems so amazing though. The writing and stuff. Margaret McHeyzer has that rare gift that allows readers to feel everything. Though ... this is a book, I really don't want to feel. I wish her all the luck with this book though.

Please note this review is only for the first 23% of the book!!! I have no idea what happens later, so things may change that I have no idea about!
THIS BOOK HAS TRIGGERS!!!!

Thursday, April 14, 2016

White Raven (Raven, #1) by J.L. Weil

Synopsis

DREADFUL LIES.
UNEXPECTED LOVE.
IMPOSSIBLE TRUTH.
It only took one heartbeat to change my life—one chilling phone call in the middle of the night.
And then, as if my life didn’t already suck, my dad sends my brother and me to some idyllic island for the summer to live with a grandma we never met. WTH. Naturally, I rebel. In the end, I find myself shipped off to Raven Hallow…and bored to tears.
Until I get an eyeful of the mind-bendingly gorgeous Zane Hunter. The dark-hair cutie makes my pulse go bonkers, and I think, maybe this might not be so bad after all. Six feet of swoon inducing looks, with a hint of Celtic charm in his voice, he was the type of guy that left a string of broken hearts in his wake. And I had all the heartbreak I could handle.
Yet, there is something uncanny, almost supernatural about Zane, and it’s not just his devastating smirk. No matter how much distance I put between us, Raven Hallow isn’t big enough, and the sparking tension between is undeniable. Of course, the one person I want to avoid becomes my salvation.
My past comes back to terrorize me. Someone wants me dead, and the closer I get to the truth, the more I realize my whole life is a lie. I am no longer sure what is more frightening—the attempts on my life or the guy whose heart and soul are synchronized with mine. 


My Thoughts
★★★★ Stars
I received this book via NG in return for an honest review.
I adored this book. Honestly, the character reminded me of myself to the point of saying things I would say. Lol. I thought this book was very well paced and the character building was amazing. I liked how even though she wasn't a fan of "girl" friends, she managed to make a few anyway, well, one anyways. I liked how the reapers and death weren't your typical "black hooded cloak with a crazy looking scythe". The fact that death had a sense of humor was just awesome to me. But of course, there is the insta-love...  Which I'm not knocking, I'm just wishing it weren't predictable. For once I kinda wish the girl wouldn't go for the "bad boy".... and I kinda wish she would have went with who she was SUPPOSE to be with. He is so adorable! Ugh I just love him! Anywho, I wish we could have known more about a few characters like Rose and her mama. And to be honest, I actually am curious to know more about her brother for the fact, he might be younger and a "gamer" but that doesn't make him blind. As a brother, I'm sure he is still protective over his sister and was wondering where she was going all the time. What did he think about all the crazy things going on, ya know?
A few things I had trouble with ... well, not really trouble, it just made me think "that's not possible" is when they were talking about Banshees and Reapers. They made it seem like Piper was both... Which isn't possible, considering Reapers reap the souls while a Banshees cry warns of an impending death. I could be missing something here or she could just be making her own kind of Banshee.
Also at one point, I really thought it said the twins were five minutes apart, but later it says four? I'd I'm wrong, someone, please tell me.
Over all, I adored this book and can not wait to get my hands on book two! I need it. NOW!

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi

Synopsis

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.


My Thoughts
★★ Stars
I didn't find anything unique about this story. I felt as if I had read it all before. Even the whole Striking things out non-stop. Which is passed annoying, by the way.
I felt like this was The Selection and Divergent mixed in to one with a few other books shoved in. I want to say I enjoyed the writing of the book, but that would be a lie. A major plus would have been if the strikes were left out. The strikes were completely pointless and most of the things she said made absolutely no sense. "I'm dripping red paint on the floor." ....Ummmm, what? Among other lines. I just couldn't get into it. I was looking for reasons to actually put it down so I wouldn't have to finish it. The only time it really got better were the last three chapters. I'm sorry, I personally would not recommend this book. Nor would I read book two.
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