EScott Book Week : Loss and Death in YA Fiction

It is Between Here and Forever Release Day! 

Find my review here.

While reading, I was reminded about so many great YA books that touch upon loss and death for teenagers. Below is my post about these books and why I feel they are timeless.

Be sure to post your reviews and discussions in the linky below to receive extra entries in The Secret Life of An Avid Reader's EScott Week Giveaway!!

I am not sure if you guys know this about me, but I am a sucker for emotional contemporary pieces. I do love a good cry, but on top of that I also love how in touch some authors are with how young adults deal with grief. I have never felt so connected to main characters as when they are so vulnerable. Grief/Loss/Death are all jump starters in contemporary novels and help the MC find themselves and their paths in life. Below are some of my favorites contemporary novels that deal with the above themes =D


Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
by Morgan Matson 

Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road -- diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself.

The Sky Is Everywhere 
by Jandy Nelson

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie's struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable.

Fall for Anything 
by Courtney Summers

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

So what are some or you favorite emotional contemporary books? Comment below =D
Also, to see some of Jude's and my reviews for these books, click on the tags below.

Rules:

- US Only

- 13 + only
- Runs until May 25, 2011

- May only enter once (on this blog), we will count the extra entries manually

- Each blog is hosting their own giveaway for one set of the books, but here in TSLoaAR, you have a chance to win 1 of 3!

Avid Rant : Premature Rating Syndrom

P.R.S

Premature Rating Syndrome

You all are probably wondering what the heck I am talking about, but while I was reading Playing Hurt this weekend (review will be out next week) I realized I had been struck by PRS!

PRS should not be taken lightly, it can cause unjust prejudice and hard to overcome judgments. A unbeknownst to myself I have been struggling with it for a while now without even knowing.

Premature Rating Syndrome is a disease that affects the mind of a blogger causing him or her to rate (in their heads) a book before they have even finished reading it. I find this happens to me alot. Maybe its because I know myself so well, or maybe because the book is predictable and I think I know where its heading, but usually by the middle I know whether the book is 1,2,3,4,or 5 stars before I sit and write my review.

Now, do I change my mind while reading? Yes, sometimes I do, but for the most part I stick with my ratings. And then I had another realization (there was alot of realizing this weekend) I am not rating the book based on how good it is, I am rating my experience reading it. Yes I do have my other ratings based on plot, writing style, characters....and those are more of a testament to how I feel about the book, but my overall rating is how I felt while reading the book. So maybe having PRS isn't such a bad thing. I know what I like and what I don't like.

So fellow bloggers I come to you seeking advice: Do you have PRS? What do you do to combat it? Maybe the only way to fight it is to take out the rating system. I think for now I shall keep it though, as long as I try to maintain an open mind while reading =)

Why I Blog...

So I just got home from Ultra Music Festival and as per my usual bedtime routine I checked my google reader for interesting blog posts. This article by Kristi @ The Story Siren was just sitting there waiting for me. (BTDubs definitely think you all should go read it now, also read some of the comments if you can, everyone makes very interesting points)

Now I know 1:52 AM is probably not the best time to start writing my opinion, but I am wired from all the Redbull (with some vodka) and I want to get it all out before it slips my mind. Why I Blog.... I love books! Its actually a really simple reason and I am pretty sure I have mentioned it before. All my life I have always been a book lover, but all my friends are not really readers. So even when people didn't know how to use the internet, I used it as a resource to find the next book I would read. I didn't have friends that could recommend me anything, so I used reviews online to find a book I would like to read.

When I started my blog I did it for the younger me, the one looking for someone with similar tastes that could be my book pal. I did it so that when someone reads a a review of mine for a book that they have already read and they feel the same way as me about it, they could look at my others reviews for guidance as to their next book choice. That what I do when I read blogs, even now I am still looking for the next book to love.

I swear I have NEVER felt more myself, than when I am blogging or communicating with other bloggers. I am so glad I found this community... and am soooo excited to keep growing my blog and meeting new people. I don't get paid for this (in fact it takes away from my studies and my real job), I rarely get free books (and most of the time, if I loved it I will buy it), and I do do (haha) meme's (and that's because the ones I do are great ways to introduce someone to a book they can like/ or learn more about yours truly). Sorry if this post is a little scattered, I might have put too much of my personality and quirks in it, but it is how I really feel.

PS: Be sure to check out another really interesting post by Farrah over at I Eat Words here.
Update: Also just found Andye from the Reading Teen response to Kristi blog post, and can I just say Ditto.

Zen Moments

And so what I’d like to rant about is about Zen Moments…. I had been seeing this term in a lot of blogs and stuff, never actually knowing the meaning of it, until I Googled it – Yes, I Googled it – and all-mighty Google gave me answers. Zen Moment: mind-blowing, embrace entirely the moment you are currently experiencing, the whole world gets quiet and nothing else matters, except for that moment.

This reminds me of Avatar in some ways, when Jake gets kicked out of the tribe, and to regain their respect has to go hunt down the weird bird-dinosaur thing witch’s name I can’t remember, and he says:

"Sometimes your whole life boils down to one insane move."

I really think that life boils down to a LOT of insane moves.  Or maybe not that insane. But small things that can define our lives completely. Like that one time I went to this coffee shop. And instead of ordering my usual hot chocolate I ordered something with a way too much cinnamon and way to bitter – don’t know why I ordered that thing, most disgusting thing EVER - the cashier told me it was her favorite and we got talking. Later I found out we went to the same school. She is now my Best Friend. Or taking a different road towards my house – I still don’t know why I did that on either - and discovering I had a cute neighbor. He later on became my Boyfriend.

Little things that can change it all completely. And for me, the most important Zen Moment of my life was when I saw the Twilight movie. Wow, SUPER ZEN JUDE *sarcasm* . Yeah, this may not seem wow but, hear me out. I went to watched. I fell in love with it. Then I bought the books, only ‘cause I wanted them sitting nicely on my shelf, never actually intended to read them. I had NEVER read a book before in my life. Got them the Christmas I was 15. Finally gave them a shot. I loved the so much that I wanted more, but I live in Mexico and, well, nobody really reads here so, I figured that If I wanted to keep reading, It’d have to be in English. Bought all 4 books again – in English this time – A dictionary. And learned.

Twilight is not one of my favorite books anymore. I don’t like vampires that much and neither way too tortured characters. But if it wasn’t because my BF – coffee girl – invited me to see the movie and offered to buy mi ticked – it was by 1 get 1 free, so, she technically didn’t buy – But if It hadn’t been for  that, I would have never started reading. It’s been two years since I started reading. A year since I started writing. And a month since I started Reviewing. I’m the proud owner of a Book Club in Goodreads that has achieved more than 300 members in less than 2 months. And a proud reviewer in this Blog. If I hadn’t made the Club, Yani’s would have never contacted me.

So, thank you Stephanie Meyer, Yani’s, mom and dad – for being strangers in a huge school, hating each other to death and ending up marrying each other – now THAT’S a funny story ^^.

So, Zen Moments. You just gotta love ‘em… ♥

DNF: A Discussion

What Does DNF Mean?
As a newbie, I had no clue what this meant. Even though I had seen it around, it didn't click until I read some discussions happening in the blogosphere about it.

DNF= Did Not Finish

Common DNF Rules?
Some bloggers set rules for themselves on their limit before they label a book DNF. I've read rules with page limitations of 50 or 100 pages and others that say to skip ahead and see if you like it before you completely give it up.

See this link on an librarian's view on DNF.
See this link on another blogger's view on DNF.

My Opinion
I really don't like NOT finishing a book, especially an ARC that has been given to me, but sometimes you just don't click with a book. For me its usually one of two things: 1) I am stressed/ or unfocused at the time I begin to read or 2) I really don't click with the characters. These cause me to not be able to focus/concentrate on the book and therefore I just can't get into the book.

In the past I have had times where I give up on a book too soon, or don't give up soon enough. I'll pick up a book I gave up on and fall in love the second time I try to read it, such as with The Hunger Games -I know I am an idiot for not loving it the first time around- and Unearthly. Other times, I finish it and still wasn't touched or moved by it.

That is why I think having a process, not necessarily DNF rules, is a good thing for every blogger/reader to have. My DNF Rules:

• Read at least 100 pages.
• If I am bored, read ahead next chapter and see if it gets better or read other blogger's reviews and see if they felt the same.
• If feeling stressed, or not in the mood, add the book to the end of the TBR (To Be Read) pile and try again later.
• Second time around with a book and I still can't connect, officially add to the DNF pile.

So what are your DNF rules? Join the discussion and check out the links above!

What is a "Cute" Read?

I realized that I have been using that word over and over again in my reviews. I bet many of you are wondering what constitutes a "cute" read?



Warning: Definition may vary depending on the reviewer.

Cute Read: (adj or adv)

... light, with little or no substance/background; fun; feel-good; in the moment; fast; straightforward; some are laugh-out-loud; there is a beginning, middle, and end; amusing; and satisfying...

Simon Romantic Comedies, Rachel Hawthorne Books, and -for the older generation- Love Stories Series are both great examples of Cute Reads.

Time Troubles

Unfortunately, as you grow up, you have less and less time to spend on the things you love. That is the case for my very close friend Jordyn. She has decided she has to focus on school and although she will try to help me out every once in a while, I am now on my own. Thanlfully, she has left me the email and blog address, so for you followers nothing has changed. But from now on its me, just me, working on this blog. So if ANYONE is interested in guest reviews or even becoming a full time partner, please email me. I really would like to continue posting as much as I have been able to in the past. =)

P.S. for those of you who don't know (which is probably everyone) JisforJinx comes from the Meg Cabot book Jinx, as we are both obssessed with Meg Cabot books when we where younger. So we created this blog at first as a tribute to her writing, but then changed it to our love for all YA books.

Cravings

You know how when you were young and you had a favorite food, if you could, you would eat it everyday. Mine was chicken nuggets. I would ask for it everyday. Some days my parents gave in, but usually I ate a well-rounded yet still fattening Cuban meal. And then you grow up, and move away to college, where no one can tell you no. So you do just that, you eat your favorite food everyday.

That lasts about a week before your are completely over it, so much so that you don't want to see that meal again for weeks, even months.

Well that is how I had been feeling lately about paranormal romance novels. I was so over it. I thought it would never "taste" as good as the first couple of novels I devoured. And then Shiver came along, and suddenly I got my appetite back. Maggie Stiefvater renewed my love and craving for good YA paranormal romances.

I just finished Linger and I was not disappointed, in fact, this is one of those rare sequels that is better than the first. Her novels don't just fit into one category, there are real issues involved like in contemporary novels and mystical mysteries that keep you turning the page. Tomorrow, I will try to write my complete review, but I just had to say:

Thanks Maggie, for making me giddy for wolves again =)

Dystopian Novels: A Discussion

Last week, the NYT opinion section came out with a discussion of why young adult fiction was so popular now a days. Several authors wrote pieces for the discussion, which can be found here. I thought it was very interesting what Maggie Stiefvater wrote. 

  "Teenagers want to be able to fight for what’s right -- but finding out what’s right is now 90 percent of the battle. If only the evil in the world was named Voldemort, we could get down to the business of slaying it. And with the dystopian novels, we know just what we're fighting for." - Maggie Stiefvater

With dystopian novels, you know just what and who you are fighting. You are fighting to keep from losing your individuality and from losing your freedom.

But unlike, Ms Stiefvater, I don't believe all is black and white in dystopian novels and THAT is what draws the readers in. The reason these worlds came to be was from good intentions. You can't tell me that whole time reading these books you have never thought how much easier your life would be if some things were chosen for you or if everyone looked the same. The point of these novels, and why I feel people are attracted to them, is that they reiterate what we already know. That life isn't perfect, but without some sadness how can you truly know what happiness feels like.

I just read a preview of delirium and one of the main characters said something similar as she was being carted off to be evaluated for matching. " You can't be really happy unless your unhappy sometimes. You know that, right? I think that's the question that all these dystopian novels ask us, and hopefully at the end of the story your answer is "Yes, I know that."

Young and in Love?

While reading updates on my favorite blogs, I cam across this post in Persnickety Snark's blog. I couldn't agree more with everything she wrote.

Its hard to portray love to others. In both movies and in print, sometimes it can come across insincere. It's not love, but lust and obsession, and although love can include the other two, the presences of the former does not equal love.

Lately, books have not been satisfying my expectations. Matched a was great book. Unique and clever, emotional as well. However, it was still lacking. I can't exactly tell you what I didn't enjoy, but something was missing. I am definitely going to reread it later, with less expectation and see if I enjoy it more the second time around. But back to my point, Matched has not been the only disappointment this past year.

One of the main things that has bugged me has been the easy and simple endings, especially in contemporary novels. Oh the person causing trouble moved away, or the other guy I was interested in got a new girl and is so happy. Paranormal novels and series can get away with it more because series need material to keep going (though they can push away a reader that way) and paranormal novels are just that not normal situations.  I like real endings no matter how sad they are. Which is why I loved Fall for Anything.

SO a Thank you to some of my favorite authors for always keeping it real. I look forward to what 2011 brings around.

HTML I Did Not Miss You

Like yesterday, I believed today would be the day I would get some reviews in and maybe even read another book. But of course the perfectionist in me kept wanting to change elements of my blog. So for the past 4 hours I have been adding borders. Yes borders. Three little borders have taken me four hours!? How can that be?????

I used to be very familiar with HTML, I wrote all the codes for layouts in my blogs and Myspace (when I used to have one). Today, I had to use the world wide web to help me out. Yes the WWW, is very informative, but it also have a lot of bulls**t. So sifting through that took up a generous amount of my time. So I am heading to the library to get a book on HTML for dummies. Look back later today or tomorrow for the full review of Fall for Anything!

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

So I WAS planning on writing at least two reviews today-LA Candy and finish Fall for Anything- however, I started putting together the upcoming books list and wow did that take long. I have been at it since 9:30! I even forgot to have lunch and it was worth it!

To me that is one of the most important pages on my blog because it is one of the things, that as a reader, I most appreciate. SO please check out my upcoming books in 2011 page and comment if there is anything missing!! Also, check out the accompanying book store, which also took up a lot of time! I mean if your going to buy from Amazon anyways, help a girl out and give her a (very small) referral fee for all her hard work. It is still the same price to you no matter what.

I know my blog seems a little empty, but just think... I did all this within the last couple of weeks, and I am bringing in new authors as soon as possible =)

Lastly, look out for future contests and giveaways.