Book Review : Songbird

By: Angela Fristoe

Publisher: Little Prince Publishing
Pages: 208
Source: TeenBookScene Tour

There are defining moments in life when everything changes. For Dani Mays, it was the day she witnessed her father kill her brother. Now seventeen years-old, she still hasn't put it behind her.

After Jace's death, she bounced between her alcoholic mother and foster homes, until she found a permanent place. And a reason to stay: Reece Tyler He's her best friend, yet Dani wants more from Reece.

Faced with possibly losing Reece, Dani struggles to define his place in her life and escape the memories of her brother's death and the influence it has over her choices. Even as she weaves the pieces of her heart back together, the past becomes more than a memory when a former foster brother reappears and Dani begins receiving threatening phone calls.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Mini-Review:

I received this book as part of a book tour and I am so glad I signed up for it. This book has one of the most emotional starts to a book I have ever read. Literally my first note about the book was "I was crying by page 4." Dani is someone that's been through a lot in life, she carries all this emotional baggage and you can tell it affects her every day. I really loved this part of the story.

The story is told in the present with past memories seeping in between. I loved the style of it and I loved the emotional past memories and it shows how Dani has grown because of it.

What I didn't like much was how the story progresses. I felt Angela added more and more for Dani to deal with, and while I can see what she was trying to do, I feel like the story got a little bombarded and diluted from what should have been the main focus. While I did love Dani's relationship with Reece (friendship to love), I wanted to hit them sometimes when they couldn't see what was right in front of them!

I have no quotes to give on this one, it's an adventure you will have to discover on your own...

My Review in a Tweet: Heart wrenching, emotional, and deals with so many issues. You are instantly inside Dani's mind and hope that things will work out for that songbird.

Ratings:

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 5/5

Characters: 4/5

Angela Fristoe is a debut novelist with Little Prince Publishing and is gearing up for the release of her first YA Romance, Songbird. She was the winner, and double finalist, in the Romance category of The Strongest Start Contest 2010 hosted by The Next Big Writer. When not writing, she teaches and spends time with her family.

ebook $2.99

print $8.99

ISBN: 978-0615470491

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Angela's Website & Blog

Songbird Website

Review: Sky is Everywhere

Book: The Sky is Everywhere
Author: Jandy Nelson
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Pages: 272
Source: Borrowed
Date Read: March 16, 2011

Summary:

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.

Yani's Analysis:
I started this book and I really really liked it. It reminded me of Elizabeth Scott and Sarah Dessen books.However, as I continued to read something started to bother me. Like how everyone fell into the cliched description and how the characters used tree as a euphemisms for mind? But then I just kept reading and Jany's writing is just so lyrical. She has a MFA in poetry and you can tell. There where poems written by Lenny and they where just beautiful. The poems where my favorite part of the book.

Unlike most people, I wasn't in love with ( I can't even remember his name) instead I completely fell for Lennie's sisters boyfriend, which is completely wrong I know. But the pain, Oh the pain, these characters felt. It just breaks your heart.Lennie doesn't know how to deal with it. Who would? And because of that she doesn't allow herself to move on and instead suffocates herself in sadness and Toby's arms.She doesn't know who she is without her sister.

This book takes you on Lennie's journey. Journey to love, to finding herself, and to finding happiness again without her sister there.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 4/5

Similar Titles:

Other Memorable Quotes:

"Her face is more open than an open book, more like a wall of graffiti really."

"No way out but through."

"My sister will die over and over again for the rest of my life. Grief is forever."

Review: Between Here and Forever

Book: Between Here and Forever
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: 5/24/2011
Pages: 256
Source: ARC
Date Read: 2/22/11

Summary:

Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

Yani's Analysis:
In the first couple of pages I was already fighting back tears. Typical Elizabeth Scott. Reminiscent of Bloom and Perfect You, Scott writes a beautiful story of romance, family issues, tragedy, and personal growth. Every time I read one of her novels I feel like I am drowning inside a beautiful story, and when I turn the last page I can finally breathe again. Its like I'm holding my breath the whole time, wishing to know what happens, but never wanting it to end. From the first line I was immersed into the main character's mind. I felt what she felt. I saw what she saw.

Abby just lost her sister, though she won't admit it. While Tess's body is in a strange hospital bed, her mind has yet to return. And though Abby wants her sister to wake up, because well she is her sister, the majority wants her to wake up so Abby doesn't have to spend the rest of her life living in the shadow of her perfect sister.... someone she could never be. This story isn't just about loss. It's about insecurity and letting those around you affect how we see ourselves. It's about want, wanting and being wanted. It's about LIVING our lives, and not letting things pass us by.

Deeply real and moving, everyone in this novel has a secret and as you turn the pages more and more is revealed. My only gripe is that it ended too soon and I just can't wait to be drowning in Elizabeth Scott's work yet again.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Other Memorable Quotes:

Review: Fall for Anything

Book: Fall for Anything

Author: Courtney Summers

Publisher: St. Martin Griffin

Pages: 224

Date Read: 1/3/2011

From Amazon:

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?

Yani's Analysis:

"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." That is what this title reminds me of. Eddie has no idea what to think after her father's suicide and she is in a very vulnerable place. Ready to believe anything that will bring her closer to the answer.

I have to say Summers didn't disappoint. I have loved all her works. I guess I am a bit of a pessimist and thought there was no way she can write another great and unique novel. And she proved me very wrong. This is probably my favorite of her novels. I enjoy her writing style. How she creates dramatic pauses with her writing, and using isolated phrases to capture a moment. I could really here Eddie's voice in my head. Some authors are so descriptive, taking up pages to describe a scene or moment, but Summers creates a picture using a minimal amount of words that is even more beautiful and provocative. You can the scene in your head, and see whats underneath the picture as well.

I loved the story progression as well. It was unpredictable in the sense that just when you thought you knew where Summers was taking it, its made a sharp left and headed into another direction. SPOILER ALERT (Highlight): I had a bad feeling about Culler, but then he would do something sweet and I would shrug it off. It was easy to see how Eddie in such a vulnerable position would do the same. I also liked that none of the male leads where perfect, and how there was a love triangle, but the story wasn't about love.

Summers is definitely one of the most realistic and beautiful contemporary authors out there. I can't wait to see what else she comes out with and I can't recommend this book enough.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Uniqueness: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

 

Similar Titles:

• Amy & Roger's Epic Detour
  

Memorable Quotes:

"I am always leaving, but I never go anywhere." -Eddie